Not long ago, I stumbled upon an article in the New Yorker about a unique blanket called the ‘Gravity Blanket.’ This isn’t your average lightweight throw; it’s about 10% of your body weight and is designed to melt away stress and amp up your sense of calm. 🎯 Dreamt up by some energetic 20-somethings, this cozy creation hit Kickstarter with a modest goal of around $20,000 but ended up snagging seven times that in just one day! By the end, they’d pulled in an astonishing $5.3 million! With 70% of Americans struggling to catch a good night’s sleep at least once a week and 40 million dealing with constant anxiety, it’s no wonder people are willing to drop around $300 for a slice of peace. Of course, for someone like me, who insists on wrestling with insomnia until my tablet crashes onto my face, it might not be much help… 😅
Some studies suggest that the ultimate stress-buster is a hug, and the closest you can get to that comforting squeeze is about 10% of your body weight. The blanket comes in three weights: 6.8kg, 9kg, and 11.3kg, chosen based on this very research. (Sorry, featherweight idols, you’ll have to wait for a lighter version!)
The journalist who penned the article was so intrigued by this blanket on Kickstarter that she immediately asked Gravity if they could send her a prototype. They happily sent over a 20-pound model. (Not that it matters, but we can guess she weighs around 90kg.) She reported falling into a deep slumber once she was under it, and honestly, with 9kg pressing down on you, what else can you do but sleep? Even the lightest option is around 7kg, so it might feel like a ghostly presence pinning you down, but judging by the Kickstarter success and people’s reactions, it seems to work wonders. 🌟
Even if you’re not usually stressed, if you love a good hug—but sadly don’t have anyone to give you one—why not give this a shot? 🤗
A quick search on Amazon will show you lots of ‘Gravity Blanket’ products, but beware! The original isn’t available there. If you’re thinking about buying one, make sure you don’t end up with a knockoff. Stay alert! ⚠️
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