Feeling Stressed? Hack Your Nervous System With This Black Friday Purchase

If you had to sum up 2020 in one word what would you choose? Here's one of mine: Solitude

One truth 2020 has laid bare is that human beings are made to be together. A year spent six feet apart at all times has proven challenging for pretty much everyone. Remote work and/or state supported (f)unemployment seemed relaxing at first to many. But when paired with social distancing and economic collapse everywhere else, it's become a bit unhealthy.

There's one common question being asked by millions of people suffering from job loss, loneliness, anxiety, depression, or just plain STRESS. Can someone please provide me some relief?

For this article, I'm going to stay away from preaching lifestyle changes, mindset hacks, or any other angles that bloggers have beaten to death this year. Let's keep it simple. Where can you find relief? On Amazon.com or any number of small or big-box retailers.

Now I'm not suggesting anyone try to drown their problems in "shop therapy". I'm recommending you hack your body's own neurology with the strategic purchase of a blanket. More specifically you should give weighted blankets a look.

Weighted blankets were something I'd never put much thought into until 2020 hit. Reputable groups have chimed in (see gravityblankets.com) but I'll give you the sparknotes version here. Weighted blankets increase serotonin levels and decrease stress hormones by stimulating the feeling of being held.

I was a tad skeptical of these claims at first - but an old roommate swore by them so I gave one a try. A quick summary of my weighted blanket ownership: One week. Three words. I FEEL RELAXED!

Within the first few moments of snuggling underneath 15 lbs of blanket I started to find stress relief. It did in fact feel like I was wrapping myself in a giant hug. Apparently there's a scientific reason for this. Weighted blankets can be engineered to support deep touch stimulation. I'm unsure exactly what that means. But massage therapists advertise with big words like that.

And while a massage therapist can charge significant money for every session, the blanket is a one-time purchase you keep forever. Shopping the different brands of weighted blankets can help you find a solution that fits your budget. Some will cost you a few dozen dollars. Some will set you back several hundred.

The other thing to consider is that the blankets come in different sizes. You'll want to find one that is roughly 10% of your body weight. Choosing a blanket that's too light will reduce the health benefits. If the blanket it too heavy, it might actually cause you more stress to be suffocated underneath it. Ultimately, you should do your research before you buy and choose what's right for you.

Our bodies simply weren't made to function living the quarantine lifestyle. If you're in need for an extra stress-relieving lifehack, give weighted blankets a try. Of course a simple blanket won't fix all your problems. But most other solutions require you to spend either more money or more mental energy. And many of you who are reading this don't have extra of either right now.

Your physical and mental health is important. Maintaining it during the extra stress of COVID-19 requires us old dogs to learn some new tricks. One of the best tricks I've learned is to trigger the body's neurological response to being held using a weighted blanket.

Our journey through 2020 has officially reached the holiday season. If you or a loved one is feeling especially stressed, a weighted blanket may just be the gift that keeps on giving.