Health Update: Health Update: I’m Putting This Wellness Hack to Use Every Day This Winter (It’s So Cozy!) – What Experts Say– What Experts Say.
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Winters are notoriously long, dreary, and bone-chilling in Chicago, but February is my least favorite month out of the year. After trying (and usually failing) to keep up the momentum of “new year, new me” resolutions and morning routines, the seasonal blues have fully moved in — and the record-breaking Midwest cold and snowstorms this year have made me even more housebound than usual.
Since moving to Chicago a few years ago, I’ve had to get creative with wellness hacks for surviving long, dark winters. Using towel warmers for luxuriously toasty towels and robes, planning a weekly “Soup Sunday” with friends, and breaking up long afternoons with a tea walk have all helped me romanticize my postholiday regimen, but nothing beats warming up in my infrared sauna blanket and basking in some major post-sweat endorphins. I’ve owned the same one since 2024, and while it was definitely an investment, it has ultimately helped me save money on gym memberships while also completely transforming my wellness routine into a cozy, lazy girl-approved ritual that I look forward to every week.
What Is the HigherDose Infrared Sauna Blanket?
As someone who’s perpetually cold, an infrared sauna is the easiest way to warm up and swap out some of my seasonal depression for a heat-induced dopamine rush. However, my HigherDose Infrared Sauna Blanket lets me enjoy the sauna experience in a personal setting without paying for a gym or wellness membership, and it’s become my favorite low-lift wellness-at-home hack over the last few years.
According to the company’s website, the HigherDose sauna blanket is made from nontoxic, waterproof polyurethane layered with charcoal, clay, medical-grade magnets, and crystals. Compared with a regular infrared sauna’s full spectrum rays, the blanket only has far-infrared rays, which are supposed to improve your circulation (which can lead to glowing skin), activate your body’s natural detox pathways to clear out impurities, and aid with muscle and joint recovery. HigherDose also claims its crystals work in conjunction with the rays to make you feel more grounded and relaxed (a pleasant aftereffect I’ve definitely enjoyed when I’m feeling anxious or stressed). Plus, the blanket raises your heart rate and helps you burn calories as if you were working up a sweat during a workout.
It measures 72.5×32 inches when it’s unfolded and offers plenty of room for me to move around in but easily folds up into a compact shape for storage. To get a deep sweat, I plug in my blanket and set the heat on the controller (I usually do a 5 or 6 on the 1-9 scale that can go up to 175 degrees). After 10 to 15 minutes of preheating, the blanket beeps, letting me know it’s ready.
I also got the reusable cotton towel insert to make my laundry routine easy, but you can otherwise wear long sleeves, pants, and socks to protect your skin and absorb sweat. Once I’m ready to get in, I put my portable sauna on my bed or on the couch, zip myself up, set a timer for 30 to 40 minutes, and bask in the intense warmth. Once I’m done, I wipe down the sauna blanket with a cleaning solution, fold it up, and put it in the closet until next time.
Credit: Lara Walsh
Why I Love My HigherDose Infrared Sauna Blanket
Even on my most low-energy mornings and evenings when I can’t stop hitting the snooze button, I can literally roll out of bed and into my sauna blanket, or even use it in my bed if I want to. At night, it feels like the most comforting self-care ritual to bask in my sauna blanket’s embrace while I’m watching my latest movie or TV show fixation, while also enjoying infrared heat benefits like muscle recovery, improved circulation, relaxation, and detoxification. Plus, it’s way more small-space friendly (I live in a one-bedroom apartment) than a full sauna setup, which just wouldn’t fit in my home.
Not only does it create your own personal sauna experience, but I’ve also found a sauna blanket also comes with some advantages compared with a regular version. For one, I’ve perfected my self-care routine so that I can habit stack several activities at once during a half-hour sauna blanket session.
Unlike in a regular sauna, where it’s too hot to bring anything in with me, I can listen to a guided meditation or podcast on my phone, watch a TV episode, have a cold smoothie, or even do a red light therapy mask at the same time. For days I’m a little busier and want to feel productive, I can sweat while clearing out my inbox and creating my weekly meal schedule. The possibilities are literally endless. Plus, I like that the blanket’s heat doesn’t impact my face or hair like in a regular sauna. I’m able to prolong my heat styling before having to wash my hair again, a big win against my chronic winter dryness.
Buy: Higher Dose Infrared Sauna Blanket, $699
Further Reading
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