health – Emma Palmer-Cooper

The Science of Weighted Blankets

Weighted blankets are becoming increasingly popular, but do they actually work? I was asked to comment on the science and research behind weighted blankets for The English Home. This was an interesting one for me as I hadn’t considered the evidence base, but I know a lot of people who swear by them for a good nights sleep, so I got stuck in! Fortunately, there are a few published reviews that have already summarised the research evidence for me.

How do weighted blankets work?

In 2024, Yu et al., explained that “deep pressure touch” may explain the calming effects and improvement to wellbeing people experience when under their weighted blanket. They suggest that these blankets provide an even distribution of light pressure on the body, which slows our heart rate and breathing, and we settle into a state of calm and relaxation. This is known as activating the parasympathetic nervous system, or entering a “rest and digest” state. It’s similar to the soothing effects of a really good hug.

How do weighted blankets help?

As well as encouraging relaxation, a review by Wong et al (2024) highlighted that, for people experiencing insomnia and mental health problems, weighted blankets can increase the amount of time they were asleep, and reduce symptoms of insomnia. In addition to this, a review by Eron et al (2020) found that people using a weighted blanket also experienced reductions in anxiety. Yu et al.,(2024) added to this by highlight people experienced fewer negative emotions and improved overall daytime wellbeing when using a weighted blanket.

Do weighted blankets work for everyone?

Dawson et al., (2024) looked at how weighted blankets helped across the entire lifespan. They found a number of positive improvements were reported for adults, much like the reviews above, they included better sleep and improved wellbeing and mood. They also reported reductions in pain for various conditions. Interestingly, people also reported reduced medication use after sleeping under a weighted blanket. This covered a range of different medications, including reduction in prescribed sleep medication. Interestingly, weighted blankets used in senior care settings led improvements in residents’ emotional and psychological expressions during the day, which meant practitioners did not need to prescribe as much medication – I think this finding is really, really cool.

This paper also looked at the effects of weighted blankest for children and adolescents. Whilst they didn’t find as much evidence for improved sleep in younger people, studies about Autistic children and those with ADHD found that after sleeping under a weighted blanket children were more relaxed, and showed fewer signs of anxiety, anger and irritability. This also led to more stable mood and better functioning in schools.

So, to answer the original question: Do weighted blankets actually work? Scientific research seems to think so. They appear to improve sleep duration and quality, and this has a positive impact on mood and other aspects of wellbeing during the day time. It’s important to remember most of the research so far has been carried out by and for people with specific diagnosis or needs, but none of the reviews I looked at highlighted any concerns related to using these blankets. So, if you’re looking to improve your sleep quality, energy levels and wellbeing, trying a weighted blanket might be the answer!

Get started with this one, which comes highly recommended!

References

Dawson, S., Charlton, K., Ng, L., Cleland, J., Bulto, L., Page, M., & Attrill, S. (2024). Weighted Blankets as a Sleep Intervention: A Scoping Review. The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association, 78(5), 7805205160. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2024.050676 (this paper is behind a paywall so I had to read the authors accepted manuscript to understand the findings in more detail)
Eron, K., Kohnert, L., Watters, A., Logan, C., Weisner-Rose, M., & Mehler, P. S. (2020). Weighted Blanket Use: A Systematic Review. The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association, 74(2), 7402205010p1–7402205010p14. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2020.037358
Wong, S., Fabiano, N., Luu, B., Seo, C., Gupta, A., Kim, H. K., … & Husain, M. I. (2024). The effect of weighted blankets on sleep quality and mental health symptoms in people with psychiatric disorders in inpatient and outpatient settings: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 179, 286-294.
Yu, J., Yang, Z., Sun, S., Sun, K., Chen, W., Zhang, L., … & Zhu, Y. (2024). The effect of weighted blankets on sleep and related disorders: a brief review. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 15, 1333015.

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emotional-wellbeing, mental wellbeing, mental-health, science communication, stress

Coping Creatively: Resilience Building Workshops

On Thursday 12th July, we hosted our very first Coping Creatively workshop at Newbury Cancer Care.

The event involved a brief introduction to wellbeing, resilience, and why creativity and creative activities can support our wellbeing, even during difficult times. We then got stuck into crafting.

Whatever their experience, everyone who attended left having tried something new, or renewing skills they already had! Whether it was knitting, colouring or mosaic gem art, creativity flowed, and moods were improved.

These workshops aren’t just a nice idea, there’s plenty of evidence to support the benefits of creative activity, especially for those navigating unexpected challenges. Particularly for our attendees who were navigating chemotherapy, studies have shown that engaging with creative activities can help reduce feelings of anxiety, depression, stress and anger during cancer treatment (Archer et al., 2014). These activities give us something many of us are missing in a fast-paced world: time and space to breathe.

In fact, research has shown that even something as simple as colouring can make a real difference. During chemotherapy, participants who took part in art classes reported feeling more relaxed, describing the sessions as ‘breathing spaces’ in an otherwise difficult time (Bar-Sela et al., 2007). In another study, people who coloured during hospital visits reported less stress, with many saying they would do it again (Barnes et al., 2019). In other medical contexts adult colouring books have been linked with reduced anxiety, such as in emergency hospital settings (Rajendran et al., 2020).

These benefits are not limited to one age group. While we often associate creative play with childhood, adults of all ages can benefit just as much from reconnecting with their creativity. Creative activities have been shown to support mental health and wellbeing across the lifespan, helping to reduce loneliness and depression, while improving physical and emotional health (Gorny-Wegrzyn & Perry, 2022). For children and young people, arts activities have been linked to increased self-esteem, better social connection, and improved resilience (Zarobe & Bungay, 2017). Our work on colouring found students experienced less stress after 2 weeks of colouring regularly (3 time per week; Palmer-Cooper et al, 2024)

Resilience is something we can all build, at any age, and not just during hard times. Creative practices help us express ourselves, regulate our emotions, and connect with others, all essential ingredients for building resilience. When we engage in creative activity regularly, we’re building habits that support our wellbeing. These habits become resources we can draw on when things feel overwhelming or uncertain.

This growing body of evidence points supports what many people already feel instinctively: creative activity is good for us. So whether you’re facing a specific challenge or looking to improve your wellbeing, creative activities might be for you! You don’t need to be an artist or have expensive materials. Just a bit of paper, some colours, and a willingness to begin.

We’ll be running more Coping Creatively workshops soon, and we’d love for you to join us.

Getting started: simple craft supplies for wellbeing

(Paid links)

Felt Tips and Crayons

These are (in my opinion) the best felt tips ever:

Adult Colouring Books

Dot colouring books

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digital boundaries, emotional-wellbeing, mental wellbeing, mental-health, self-reflection, Uncategorized

How to take time away from tech

As Featured in Woman & Home, 11th June 2025

If you’re looking to reset your relationship with your tech, forming healthier habits is possible with a bit of thought, planning, and self-compassion.

Start with a Clear Goal

Before you jump into making changes, take a moment to think about why you want a healthier relationship with your tech. Defining your goal clearly can give you direction, a plan, and improve your motivation.

Ask yourself:

Is this a long- or short-term goal?
Can you break it into smaller steps?

Short-term goals help you stay on track and build confidence, while long-term goals provide something to strive for, which is linked to better wellbeing. For example, your overall goal might be to ‘Stop checking emails after work’. A useful short-term step could be setting a 10-minute window for emails, then putting your phone away for the evening, then muting notifications. You can make your tech work for you by using screen time limiters on specific apps after work.

Focus on the Positive

When setting goals, try to frame them as something you want to move towards rather than something you’re trying to avoid. Instead of a goal of ‘Stop using tech’, try ‘Spend more time doing things I enjoy in the evening’. Research shows that goals based on positive outcomes, rather than avoiding negatives, are more likely to improve your wellbeing and help you stay motivated.

Be Specific and Measurable

A vague goal like ‘Spend less time on my phone’ is hard to stick to. Instead, be specific: ‘Put my phone in another room for 10 minutes after dinner’. That way, you’ll be able to measure your progress and feel a sense of achievement as you stick to your goal. If you want to increase your time away from tech, you can set new goals as time goes on. Increasing your tech-free time to 20 or 30 minutes will help build the habit over time, and show how far you’ve come!

Picture Your Progress

A simple but effective way to stay on track is to use mental imagery. This means imagining yourself in the future, and the possibilities available to you as you work on and achieve your goals. Picture the steps you took to get there, what decisions you made, what challenges you overcame, and how you will feel when you’ve done it. You could visualise one week from now, then two weeks, a month, and so on. This process helps build belief in yourself and maintains motivation.

Make It Practical and Doable

A goal like ‘Spend more time on activities I enjoy’ sounds lovely, but what does that actually look like? Start small: even just 10 minutes focused on your interests can lead to big changes in your wellbeing, and build long-term habits around your tech use. Consistency is key. Choosing behaviours that you know are manageable regularly are more likely to lead to lasting success.

If you want hints and tips on how to make new, Happy Habits, try the Happy Habits Box or Positive Postcards; science-backed tools for everyday happiness.

emotional-wellbeing, mental wellbeing, self-reflection, stress

Navigating the ‘quarter-life-crisis’

As featured in The Mirror 01.02.2025

Increasing numbers of young adults are experiencing what they call a ‘quarter-life-crisis’.

Forget the mid-life-crisis stereotypes of a middle aged man buying a sports-car in his 50s. Now people in their 20s are struggling with life transitions and understanding world, and who they are within it.

Culturally the concept and transition to adulthood has changed and become longer than for past generations. Emerging adulthood is now not a transition stage but a full developmental phase that lasts from18 years to about age 29 years of age. Whereas in say the 1970s, people were in full time work, married and having their first child by 25, these traditionally ‘Big’ life events are happening up to 10 years later than in the 1970s.

In the present day, people in their 20s are still learning about their identity – who are they, what is their place in the world, what do they want to do with their life.

It is also a stage of great instability in terms of their environment, as people figure out who they are they are also navigating an ever changing employment and economic landscapes.

It is no surprise then that more half of emerging adults often experience anxiety, and a third report often feeling depressed. Even if this is not a clinical diagnosis, more complex living environments twinned with expectations that do not align with changing society can lead to more stress and negative impacts on mental wellbeing.

Emerging adulthood can bring opportunities

Though this period of life seems defined by uncertainty, it can also present a lot of opportunities. Having more time as an emerging adult allows for exploration, learning, and self-understanding, that can ultimately lead to more intentional life choices. Rather than viewing this stage as a crisis to be fixed, it may be more helpful to recognise it as a normal part of modern development.

A good way to navigate this new season of life is to ensure you have good social support, realistic expectations, and have open conversations with people around you. Ask for advice, help and support. Take time to make decisions and reflect on their outcomes.

By acknowledging the challenges of emerging adulthood and reframing them as part of a longer journey toward self-understanding, society can help reduce negative views of emerging adulthood and empower young people to find meaning and resilience in the face of change.

digital boundaries, emotional-wellbeing, mental wellbeing, mental-health

Creating digital boundaries for your mental health

As featured in Women’s Health; 13th May 2025

While technology has improved access to information and made life easier in many ways, it requires finding a balance. Smartphones have created both benefits and challenges in daily life.

After having my daughter, during a baby first-aid course, I was told my smartphone was the most powerful tool I could have on me if she suddenly fell poorly – you can ring someone for help immediately and search what to do while waiting. However ease of access to online spending has increased challenges faced by people experiencing gambling addiction and impulsive spending.

The pandemic drastically changed smartphone usage patterns, leading to increased reliance on digital communication to stay in touch with friends and family, and also adapt to working at home. But many people also experienced an increase in screen fatigue.

This can be addresed at work by doing things like blocking out time in your calendar so you know you won’t be called into a zoom meeting, or making space to move, breathe, or just take a break from your screen.

Research has shown associations between problematic phone use and conditions like anxiety and depression, though the causality remains unclear. There are suggestions that this relationship becomes cyclical, where anxiety leads to increased phone use, as with doom scrolling, which in turn fuels more anxiety. Other research shows that doomscrolling can enhance feelings of anxiety.

Identifying problematic use is about understanding how and why you’re using your phone. Are you picking it up out of necessity or habit? If you’ve set aside time to reply to messages, do you put your phone down afterwards or do you start scrolling mindlessly?

Setting boundaries with smartphone use is really important. Knowing if you have a tendency to use your phone in ways that don’t benefit you, such as spending money or losing time when scrolling, means you can start to set boundaries with a timer or “buy later” list.

There are some simple practical strategies you can use to start enforcing these boundaries, like blocking out specific times in your calendar for scrolling, messages or checking up on news.

Try turning off notification for everything, except emergency contacts, during working hours and when you go to sleep to avoid getting distracted. Carve out a specific time to respond, such as at lunchtime.

If you find yourself picking up your phone out of habit, try swapping it for another activity. The required conscious decision-making about when and how to use smartphones, but can lead to huge improvements in your wellbeing and provide more balance in your life.

Try the Happy Habits box to learn news ways to build resilience and wellbeing.

Uncategorized

Doomscrolling, Brain Rot, and how to stop

Doomscrolling is the habit of endlessly scrolling through online media, consuming unfulfilling content and bad news. Whilst it might feel almost addictive, research has shown that the fear of missing out or being uninformed drives people’s inability to stop scrolling.

The fear of missing out comes from feelings of uncertainty and anxiety about current events, where consuming more information makes people temporarily feel more certain and in control. When algorithmic recommendations and ‘endless’ feeds then present similar content, we may experience excessive scrolling.

Being immersed in negative news may feel like it keeps us informed, but over time this has a negative impact on our psychological wellbeing and overall life satisfaction. Research has shown that people who spent just a few minutes daily consuming negative news feeds experienced fewer positive emotions, less optimism, and more negative emotions than people who did not.

What’s the difference between Doomscrolling and Brain Rot?

Both doomscrolling and brain rot are linked to lower wellbeing, and anxiety when not using a phone. Research has shown that overall excessive internet use in younger people is related to a reduction in the brains ability to processes reward, and regulate behaviour and emotion regulation.

How can we become more aware and stop doomscrolling?

You don’t have to ditch technology to break a scrolling habit – regardless of what content you are consuming. It’s all about being self-aware by asking yourself why you’re using your phone, and how you feel. This takes practice and a conscious effort to recognise and change habits.

If you notice you are scrolling with no clear purpose and feel unfulfilled, you can switch to something more intentional. Research shows that positive emotions help us recover more quickly from negative experiences, so choosing activities that genuinely uplift you can make a real difference.

Setting clear boundaries on when and how long you use your phone can help reduce scrolling, and build healthier habits. Having an enjoyable alternative activity will make this easier. To really reinforce this habit, you can reward yourself each time you make the choice to say ‘No’ to scrolling.

Try This: Happy Habits & Positive Postcards

If you’re looking to build these practices into daily life, check out the Happy Habits Box – a toolkit designed to help you find joy in the everyday. Positive postcards provide ideas and guidance for small, everyday activities to promote positivity.

emotional-wellbeing, happy habits box, mental wellbeing, mental-health, positive postcards, self-reflection, stress

A Recipe for Moving and Coping

Lately, I’ve been asked a lot about movement and how it helps us cope. So, I’ve gathered up the key ingredients and put together a recipe of sorts. Like any good recipe, it’s flexible: you can mix and match to create your own personalised blend for mental wellbeing.

Move Your Body and Mind

It is clear that physical activity supports heart, joint and respiratory health, but it’s also an excellent way to improve mental wellbeing. Regular movement helps build resilience, our ability to adapt and cope with life’s challenges. Movement doesn’t need to be high-intensity workouts. Gardening, stretching, dancing in your kitchen, it all counts. What matters is getting your body involved in something different.

Find Your Joy

Joy is essential. Research consistently shows that regularly doing things we enjoy enhances and protects our mental wellbeing. Not only does it promote positive emotions like feelings of happiness, but it builds resilience. Choosing movement you actually like is one of the most effective ways to stay motivated and build a happy habit.

Connect to Feel Grounded

Connection is another mental wellbeing must-have. Feeling supported, emotionally and practically, helps us cope with stress more effectively. Doing something active with others combines the benefits of movement and social connection. Whatever you do, spending time with people we enjoy fosters our sense of belonging and reduces loneliness.

Step Into Greenspace

Simply being outside can benefit everyone, and pairing this with movement can enhance our wellbeing further. In our own research with university students, and, found that spending time outside had significant this benefit to mental wellbeing, and this was still clear when we accounted for other well-known positive influences like social connection, exercise, and mental health status.

But quality of greenspace matters. Look for places that feel safe, are well maintained, accessible, and offer opportunities to engage in different ways, like walking paths, open lawns, or spaces to sit and reflect. And remember, what makes a space appealing is personal: the “right” spot is the one that feels and looks good to you.

Move Mindfully

Mindfulness is consciously noticing the present moment without judgement. When we fully pay attention to our current environment, we can shift focus away from past and future worries. Combining this with movement in the outdoors makes for another wonderfully positive combination to promote our wellbeing.

Research shows that as little as 5–6 minutes of mindful walking can lead to noticeable improvements. Physically, it can reduce blood pressure and increase walking speed and ability. Psychologically, it supports better mood, reduces stress, distress, and anxiety, whilst increasing people’s state of mindfulness.

To walk mindfully, pay close attention to your surroundings, your breathing, your footsteps, and even the thoughts that come and go. Try not to label these experiences as good or bad, just notice them.

Flow and Focus

If mindful walking doesn’t come easily, you could try a colour walk. Intentionally pick out and notice details and colours in your surroundings as you walk. This helps keep you present and prevent mind-wandering. Alternatively, you could try mindful photography, by taking pictures of things that catch your attention or hold personal meaning. Later, reflect on those images: What does this photo represent? Why is it meaningful to me? These small moments of reflection can help cement positive experiences and deepen their impact.

Focusing on nature, even in our own garden, can help focus attention and bring about a sense of calm. Activities we enjoy and lose ourselves in, where time seems to slip away, are often described as “flow states,” and these have also been linked to improved mood and wellbeing.

Movement isn’t just about fitness, it’s a way of coping, connecting, and cultivating wellbeing. Whether it’s a walk with a friend, a solo stroll in the park, or a reflective photo session, what matters most is that it feels good and works for you.

Try This: Happy Habits & Positive Postcards

burnout, emotional-wellbeing, mental wellbeing, mental-health, stress

What Is Burnout?

As featured in The Mirror US 15/04/2025

Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged and excessive stress. It’s not just “being stressed” or “having a bad week”—it’s a sign that our body and mind are saying, “I can’t keep going like this.”

People experiencing burnout often feel drained, cynical or detached, and may struggle to find motivation or meaning in tasks they once enjoyed. It’s a signal that our usual ways of coping have been exhausted.

And while it’s commonly associated with the workplace, burnout isn’t exclusive to the office. Parents, students, carers, volunteers—anyone facing chronic stress without sufficient relief or support can experience it.

What Causes Burnout?

Burnout arises when long-term stress exceeds our ability to manage it. That might look like constant workload with no downtime, lack of control or support in a role, emotional labour without recognition, or high self-imposed expectations with little margin for error.

Over time, when rest, social support, or meaningful breaks aren’t accessible or effective, our mental and physical resources reduce. Eventually, we stop coping.

How does it differ from stress?

Stress and burnout are related, but they’re not the same. Stress occurs when we feel a situation requires more of what is required than our current circumstances allow – such as time, energy, or more practical resources. There is often a sense of urgency, or anxiety. Burnout, on the other hand, feels empty, and people become detached from the task at hand

While stress might make you feel overwhelmed, burnout can make you feel like your tank is completely empty.

Photo by Photo By: Kaboompics.com on Pexels.com

How can we recognise symptoms of burnout in ourselves?

Common warning signs include emotional exhaustion, cynicism or detachment from from work, relationships, or responsibilities, reduced performance, as well as physical symptoms like geadaches, insomnia, stomach problems, or a sense of being unwell.

How can we spot signs of burnout in others?

People experiencing burnout may not always say so outright. But you might notice they are more withdrawn, more irritable, missing deadlines or being more disorganised than usual, or they have a general sense of hopelessness or apathy.

How can you recover from burnout?

Recovering from burnout isn’t a quick fix—it’s about rebuilding balance and meaning in your life, as well as energy.

Genuine rest is really important – not just sleep, but time to be free from responsibilities and relax. Setting boundaries and ensuring work-life balance is maintained will help support this. Prioritising joy and indulging in things you enjoy and value can also help. There is also a lot of support available, whatever the reason for your burnout, so asking for help is a great step to recovery.

emotional-wellbeing, mental wellbeing, mental-health

What is stress? And can it be good for you?

As Featured in Your Healthy Living 07/04/2025

Stress arises when a situation demands more than we feel our current circumstances allow. It is often linked to unpredictability, lack of control, significant life changes, or internal conflict.

At work, for example, an unexpected deadline may feel stressful—not because you lack the ability to complete the task, but because it requires more time than you believe you have available.

The key difference between stress being a positive or negative experience is motivation. Eustress is stress that acts as a motivator. For instance, adjusting your schedule to meet a tight deadline may feel like an exciting challenge. In contrast, distress occurs when stress feels overwhelming or discouraging, such as when multiple deadlines collide, making it difficult to cope.

Regardless of whether stress is perceived as positive or negative, it triggers the same physical response. The body releases adrenaline and cortisol into the bloodstream, increasing heart rate, speeding up breathing, and tensing muscles—known as the “fight or flight” response.

This response is adaptive and beneficial in the right circumstances, but the body needs time to recover afterwards. Heart rate and breathing should return to normal, and muscles should relax. However, when stress is prolonged, the body does not get enough time to recover between stress responses. Over time, this can negatively impact blood pressure, sleep, concentration, and the immune system, among other aspects of health.

The key to managing stress is setting boundaries and building healthy habits that support resilience—the ability to adapt and cope with life’s challenges.

Learn more with my Happy Habits Box!

Resilience can be developed through daily habits that promote happiness and wellbeing. When life is going well, there is time and energy to establish these habits, making them invaluable when faced with difficulties. For example, maintaining a good bedtime routine—ensuring enough sleep in a restful environment—helps support recovery when stress arises.

Engaging in activities you enjoy, such as running, going to the gym, or more relaxing hobbies like knitting, also plays a role. Setting clear boundaries between work and personal life is another crucial strategy, providing a buffer when one area becomes stressful.

Social support is equally important for resilience and overall wellbeing. Feeling safe and supported—both practically and emotionally—enhances our ability to manage stress. Nurturing meaningful friendships or connecting with people through shared interests helps build a supportive network, improving our ability to navigate stressful situations.

emotional-wellbeing, mental wellbeing, mental-health, self-reflection

3 Good Things a day can improve wellbeing

As featured in The i Paper 07/03/2025

20 life skills you can learn in under 20 minutes

How to improve your mood

Paying attention to the positive aspects of life is a simple exercise that can lead to immediate and lasting change in mood. People tend to focus more on the negative, and while negative emotions are important for growth, this focus can be draining and impact wellbeing. Taking just 10 minutes a day to consciously acknowledge positive moments can help shift our mindset towards a more optimistic outlook. Even during difficult times, noticing the good can strengthen our ability to cope.

3 Good Things Positive Postcard – Emma Palmer-Cooper

A great way to start is with the 3 Good Things exercise! At the end of the day, perhaps as you are getting into bed, you can:

1. Think about three things that went well for you today.

2. Write them down.

3. Reflect on each thing. How this make you feel at the time? How you feel about it now? Why you think this good thing happened?

Your 3 Good Things can be anything that brought you happiness – whether it’s a big success at work or a great cup of tea.

Practising 3 Good Things daily will bring the most benefits. To help make this a happy habit, you can pair it with a small but meaningful reward after each day of reflection. Over time, this simple exercise can help you focus on the positives, improving both mood and overall wellbeing.