I’ve reached optimal levels of nesting (and no, I’m not talking about the mother-to-be kind)
To many people, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) equates to incessant tidiness and cleaning rituals. I was diagnosed in third grade, and mine manifests in all sorts of ways: particular preferences, routines, and ruminating thoughts.
Sleep has always been at the center of my experience with OCD. I used to dread bedtime—a ritual most people relish—because of the difficulty I had falling asleep. It took me years of experience, sleepless nights, and more than a few recommendations before I finally learned about nesting as a coping strategy.
My current therapist, Liz, told me she’s been steering her clients toward Buffy bedding ever since she first found the brand. I quickly placed an order (they have a 7-night FREE trial?!), tried out a slew of bedding, and then developed the following formula. Turns out, I’m a biiiiiig nester… and Buffy was my ticket there.
How to Build a Successfully Comforting “Nest”
People with all different forms of neurodivergence (autism, PTSD, ADHD, down syndrome, bipolar disorder) find solace in the act of creating a comforting space for themselves. Most of us do, right? The difference is that neurodivergent people (like myself) are more vulnerable to external triggers that could upset their emotional disposition. Consequently, we’re more reliant on ways to minimize said upsets. One strategy? A cocoon of bedding.
For me, nesting is about security. The first time I turned my bed into a full-on nest, I felt what I imagine a baby must feel when nest-led (get it?) in a parent’s arms: safe, snug, secure. Here’s what I tried, liked, and continued using… with any luck, someone reading this will find similar relief with one of the products that continue to help me to this day.
Pillows on Pillows
The Wiggle Pillow is Buffy’s take on a body pillow, superior to any other I’ve tried in that it’s uber-long (82 inches!) and impressively sturdy. I’ll wrap the top behind my head to support my neck while I’m sleeping, and then lay the rest along my right side (my bed is next to the window, so in that way the pillow is insulating on cool nights).
Recently, (humble brag) I actually ordered a second Wiggle Pillow because I found myself wishing there was one on either side of my body. Laying between both, the result is a sort of cuddly chamber where I feel held on both sides and lulled to sleep.
I’ve tried placing my pillow(s) in about a million different arrangements; between my legs for hip support, wrapped from front to back of my lower back when I’m reading or streaming in bed. The possibilities are endless, which I appreciate because even though I’ve come to know what works (and doesn’t) comfort-wise, it’s helpful to have flexibility.
Buffy also sells machine-washable covers for these pillows, and I’ve bought several. My favorite? Cream, a fuzzy, GRS-certified fleece case that epitomizes cozy. The Wiggle Pillow is honestly more a tool for me than it is a pillow, and I’ve found it to be crucial in my nightly nesting routine.
Enter, the Cloud Comforter
Comforters. We know them, we love them, and most of us use them. I’d never had one quite like the Cloud, though. Buffy’s proprietary production method spins fabric into SilkShape™ fibers, which are smoother than both cotton and linen. Apparently (and now, understandably) Buffy’s Cloud is the most reviewed (and awarded) comforter on the internet?
The Cloud Comforter has a subtle quilted design to it, and Goldilocks-level heft that feels snuggly without being overbearing. I’ve had mine for six months now and it has not turned the slightest bit flat. Apparently the comforter stitch, inspired by architectural engineering, is called the “Ogee” and ensures durability when machine washed. Their patterned stitching also holds the comforter fill in place so that it remains evenly distributed (a HUGE win if you’ve ever had the miserable task of re-distributing the stubborn filling inside of a comforter or duvet).
A discomforting inconvenience like that can set off a spark of irritation that my OCD makes impossible to let go of, and then the possibility of sleep goes out the window. It’s the tiny Buffy details that really resonate with me and my specific needs.
Breezy Bedding
Speaking of tiny details… temperature plays a huge role in my ability to sleep (hence the Wiggle Pillow by my window) and for that reason, Liz just about demanded that I try Buffy’s Breeze Sheet Set and Duvet Cover. Remember, I had 7 nights for a risk-free trial run!
In all honesty, when I unpacked the bedding I thought there had been a mistake. The color was right—Powder Blue—but the material felt like silk. There was no way this was the lyocell I was prepared to receive.
Spoiler alert? It was. Turns out, eucalyptus-based lyocell is not only moisture-wicking but cool to the touch and ultra-soft. Remember the Cloud Comforter’s SilkSkape™ fibers? Those are used in this bedding, too. I actually did a little research to make sure I wasn’t just imagining it, and I found this crazy graphic…
The silky texture made my skin extremely happy, another significant factor in my decision to keep these sheets far past the end of the trial. I’ve spent nights in hotels and even at friends’ where the bedding was highly irritating and kept me awake through the night. The way OCD works is that trouble falling asleep allows me to convince myself that the next day is already ruined because I won’t be well-rested, then the ensuing anxiety makes it even harder to sleep, and the cycle continues.
Sinking into my Breeze-covered, pillow- and Cloud-topped bed feels like slipping into a cool bath. The sheets don’t wrinkle the way my old cotton ones did, and the Breeze Duvet Cover stays taut over my comforter thanks to secure corner ties and concealed buttons that cover the closure of the cover over my comforter.
This Bedding Is What I Needed All Along
All bedsheets are not created equally… or pillows, or comforters, for that matter. For someone like me, this couldn’t be more true. In a lot of ways, my OCD complicates things for me. Simple, everyday tasks like getting to bed take on a looming, stress-inducing quality.
That’s why whenever I find products that make things easier (like Buffy’s bedding!) I lean in big-time and try to get the word out. If just one person takes advantage of Buffy’s 7-night FREE trial and cocoons themself before bed, then my review will have been worth it.