THETikTok’s latest discovery when it comes to sleep? The Potato Bed. A somewhat ridiculous name, it must be said, which however aims to respond to a widespread need: that of insomnia. In fact, the bed-nest was created to alleviate evening and night-time anxiety, which leads to lack of sleep, and to relax the body and sleep more peacefully. However, the “buts” behind this trend with millions of views are different.
Potato Bed, from TikTok the bed to fight insomnia
In recent months the trend on TikTok has gained more and more likes, reaching almost 17 million appreciations. The credit goes to a creator, @secretlifeeee123who posted a tutorial, later taken up by an article in The Guardianon the so-called Potato Bed. Inspired by the shape of jacket potatoes, the idea is to make up the bed, creating a sort of nest with the sheets and pillows so as to feel wrapped up when you sleep. The purpose? Reduce anxiety in the evening and at night so as to reduce insomnia and sleep peacefully.
The success of the idea was immediate. And it’s not hard to believe: in a society that records high rates of stress and tiredness and that nights are not always as comfortable and restful as they should, the idea of sleeping in a cocoon that can make you feel protected, safe and within which you can truly relax was liked by millions of people. Who immediately copied the potato bed.
How to recreate the nest bed
Creating a Potato Bed is very simple. In fact, it is enough to lay out a fitted sheet the other way around, placing the elastic bands upwards. Then pillows and blankets are placed along the edges, so as to make them soft and start creating the “walls” of the nest. A blanket or duvet is spread in the center to create a “soft base”; finally you lie down on it, covering yourself with another blanket and, if necessary, adding more pillows.
A few simple gestures that help create a padded cocoon in which you can sleep peacefully, satisfied and protected. And in fact they positive aspects there might be. First of all theritual aspect: the Potato Bed must be done every evening, so it allows you to slow down your daystopping and focusing on a habit, which then becomes a ritual, simple to put into practice and also economical. Furthermore the nest shape winks at the so-called nesting, or rather the idea of creating a nest, a cocoon, in which to take refuge and which according to various psychological studies actually helps calm the nervous system, thus promoting sleep. But not all experts agree on the positivity of the Potato Bed.
The opinion of the experts
Is sleeping in this type of bed really good for people’s health? In fact, expert opinion is not so enthusiastic. In fact, if on the one hand the sensation of feeling protected and warm helps to relax the body and mind, above all to calm the nervous system and therefore to lower anxiety levels, on the other the Potato Bed is not ideal for sleeping all night. There are in fact two main risks: the first is the bad posture one assumes when sleeping and the second is the overheating caused by many blankets.
When you sleep, the mattress guarantees spinal support which allows not only to correctly support the back but also to evenly distribute the weight of the body. By doing this you won’t wake up with pain due to uncomfortable and unnatural positions. However, the Potato Bed does not put this principle into practice: sleeping in such a limited space and moreover resting not on a mattress that guarantees support but on duvets, blankets and pillows can cause various muscular and skeletal pain. The second factor to take into consideration is temperature.
All these layers of heavy fabric do not allow the body to sleep in a fresh and above all airy environmentthus causing overheating of the body itself but also of the space and leading to sweating and waking up at night. Added to this is the practical side: if on the one hand assembling the Potato bBed every day can be a calming ritual, on the other hand it also takes time.
Alternatives to the Potato Bed
The alternatives to the Potato Bed are different. First of all, there are weighted blankets. These exert a specific weight on the body once spread, they envelop and help you relax, as well as keeping you pleasantly warm. If you like the idea of create more layers on the bed, you can always choose natural and light, breathable fabrics and which create air circulation. Wanting you can use a few more pillows to place on the sides of the body to create a containment effect. And if you really don’t want to give up the idea of the Potato Bed, you can create it perhaps for weekend naps or during holidays.