What is A Plush Blanket: Guide To Buying One
Posted by HOME OF CHIJI
Plush blankets are universal… everyone loves them! That’s why we made the decision to make our own, because we very strongly believe that they play a very important role in self care.
Even if you don’t end up buying one through us, we’d like to help you pick one that will bring you the biggest amount of joy, comfort, and love possible. You deserve it.
Why Everyone Needs a Plush Blanket
Close your eyes and think back to your childhood for a moment. Try to remember your favorite, most relaxed times. Maybe that was Saturday morning cartoons, sitting on the couch with a bowl of your favorite cereal. Or maybe it was Friday night, watching a movie you rented with your family.
We’re willing to be that most of those times involve being under a warm, cozy blanket.
Blankets, for many of us, are a sense of security (there’s a reason they call them security blankets, after all!). That feeling of warmth and comfort is a “happy place” for a lot of people, from the time they were old enough to formulate their own memories. Many people still have their blankets from when they were children, even though their quality may be less than it was before. It’s something that people really do bond with.
Plush blankets also have a reputation for romance. There’s just something so lovely about curling up under a blanket with your long time partner or that new, budding potential relationship. Glass of wine, movie on, head on their shoulder… it’s perfection.
That’s why everyone needs their own plush blanket, because they are essentially love personified in every possible way. They’re a warm, fuzzy hug and don’t we all need a little bit more of that, especially right now?
Guide to Buying a Plush Blanket
When you’re buying a plush blanket, there are a few tips to keep in mind. These will help make sure that you get the quality of blanket that you really deserve.
The number one thing that you’ll want to look for is comfort. No one wants to spend money on a blanket that is scratchy and uncomfortable to spend time under. That may make it tricky to purchase one online, since you can’t physically feel it. Look for “plush” in the description, though, which usually indicates that the blanket is thicker and more comfortable. Check to make sure that there are pictures of the blanket as well, which can give you a good idea of how comfortable it is likely to be.
You’ll also want to pay attention to the materials used to make the blanket. There are plenty of blankets that say that they’re comfortable but, when you look at the material used, they’re made out of things that are known to be uncomfortable. When you’re purchasing a new plush blanket, materials like fleece are often the most comfortable. Wools tend to be much more scratchy, and cotton tends to shrink and lose its softness over time.
Also, with blankets at least, size really does matter. Too many times people have ordered blankets online and gotten them in the mail, only to see that they are much smaller than they thought. Pay attention to the dimensions of the blanket, and aim for bigger! It’ll be much more comfortable to lounge under after a long day, and you’ll be spending your money wisely.
One last thing to look for is how the blanket is cleaned. While many people assume that blankets that can be simply thrown in the wash are best, you may want to look for a plush blanket that is dry cleanable. While it can be more convenient to toss it in the wash, that often leads to a blanket that shrinks and pills when washed. Dry cleaning tends to preserve the blanket so that it can last longer without losing any of its quality.
The Importance of Self Care
Ultimately, purchasing yourself a new plush “security” blanket is an act of self care. But why is self care so important?
Even the World Health Organization (the WHO, for short) talks about how essential self care is for our lives. They define it as “...what people do for themselves to establish and maintain health, and to prevent and deal with illness.
It is a broad concept encompassing hygiene (general and personal), nutrition (type and quality of food eaten), lifestyle (sporting activities, leisure, etc.), environmental factors (living conditions, social habits, etc.), socio-economic factors (income level, cultural beliefs, etc.) and self-medication.” It is, and should be, a life-long habit.
But it’s also a habit that can be really hard to start. As humans, we’re designed to feel naturally bad about taking care of ourselves. It’s the norm to go around burning the candles at both ends, spending all of your time caring for other people and no time caring for yourself.
In the end, this doesn’t actually get you anywhere but exhausted and even potentially sick (stress can lower your immune system!). If you get burned out, your anxiety and depression will go through the roof and you’ll end up unable to take care of anyone. Self care is a way for you to take care of yourself first, so that you can be even better at taking care of other people.
Life is constantly changing and evolving. Self care helps make you that way, too. Change can be tough for everyone, but taking care of yourself means that you are better able to roll with all that life has to offer… good and bad.
Self care is one of the most important things you can do for yourself, on the same level as eating well and seeking medical attention when you’re ill.
Other, Easy to Do Forms of Self Care
In addition to taking time out for yourself to spend time relaxed under a blanket on the couch, there are other ways in which you can focus on better self care. They don’t have to be big acts of self care, either, like paying money to get a massage or your nails done.
Here are just a few, easy to use forms of self care that you can start doing today, which can make a huge difference.
Pay Attention To Your Emotions
Mindfulness is a great way of doing this. Take a moment and focus specifically on your breath. If that starts to make you too anxious, you can choose something else to focus on that induces less stress (like a warm cup of tea or the way a tree sways in the breeze). You can have your eyes open or closed, whichever you prefer.
Once you feel a little settled, start to pay attention to any feelings that may start to pop up. See if you can focus in on where they seem to occur, like stress in your back or anxiety in your stomach. If conscious thoughts start to occur, let them pass through and don’t try to stop them from happening. This process can be continued for as much time as you’d like, but it’s ok to start small if you haven’t done it before.
Spend Your Evenings Self Reflecting
Before going to bed in the evening, spend a few minutes in self reflection. You can make a cup of tea, light a candle, or just do it before you try to go to sleep.
Ask yourself a few questions like: How did my day go? What went well? What could I have done better? What can I promise to myself to do tomorrow?
Doing that nightly helps you establish patterns and feel more in control of your life.
Treat Yourself With Compassion
Another thing that you can do before bed to promote self care is to look at your day with compassion and understanding. Some people choose to write these things down, so that they can look back on them later and see opportunities for growth. Think of something during your day that you regret, then either write down or say some words of comfort to yourself.
Go For A Walk
Even if it’s just around the block, going for a walk is a great way to clear your head and take care of your body before bed. Exercise is great for releasing endorphins into the body, which can help fight off the physical effects of elevated stress levels. It’s also great for changing up your scenery, literally, which helps you to get a better perspective on how your day went.
In Conclusion…
Buying a plush blanket is an act of self care. With the world so seemingly out of control, taking care of yourself and your mental health is even more important now than ever before.
Knowing what to look for when buying a new blanket can help you find one that is exactly what you’re looking for, both in terms of comfort and durability.
Sources:
https://isfglobal.org/what-is-self-care/
https://blogs.psychcentral.com/weightless/2017/02/5-small-acts-of-self-care-to-try-today/
