Since 2008, Heat Holders has been helping people stay warmer and cosier with its much-loved range of thermal products. Best known for thermal socks, the collection has grown to include 5-star rated hats, gloves, thermal underwear, cosy loungewear, plush blankets and much more.
For the past few years, Heat Holders and The Sleep Charity have been working together with a shared goal: to help people understand the importance of a good night’s sleep and create the comfort and conditions that can make better sleep possible. From warm feet at bedtime to creating a cosy, relaxing sleep environment, staying comfortably warm can play an important part in winding down for the night.
Here, Heat Holders Director Shane Doughty answers our questions about the partnership, what he has learned about the importance of good sleep, what works for him personally, and how Heat Holders can help people feel warm and comfortable as they wind down for the night.
Why was partnering with The Sleep Charity important to Heat Holders?
People often think Heat Holders is simply about keeping warm in winter, but for us it’s always been about something much bigger than that. Our purpose is to make people’s lives warmer, and that isn’t just about temperature – it’s about comfort, wellbeing and helping people feel at their best.
When we initially spoke with The Sleep Charity, it quickly became clear that we share many of the same values. They’re passionate about helping people understand the importance of sleep and giving practical advice that can genuinely improve everyday life.
Helping more people improve their quality of life through better sleep made this a very natural partnership for us.
Why do you think improving sleep deserves more attention?
Speaking from my own experience, it’s very easy to let sleep slip down the list of priorities when life gets busy. There always seems to be one more email to answer, one more job to finish or one more thing to do.
As I’ve got older, though, I’ve come to appreciate just how much difference a good night’s sleep can make. I feel more focused, more positive and better equipped to deal with whatever the day brings. Looking after our sleep isn’t always something we think about, but I’ve come to learn it’s one of the best investments we can make in our wellbeing.
How does this partnership reflect Heat Holders’ values?
I believe that the best brands stand for something beyond the products they make. At Heat Holders, warmth has never just been about keeping people warm on a cold day – it’s about comfort, care and helping people feel at their best.
That’s why this partnership feels such a natural fit. It reflects our belief that small things can make a real difference to people’s everyday lives. If, together with The Sleep Charity, we can help encourage better sleep and improve people’s quality of life, then we’re staying true to what Heat Holders is all about – making people’s lives warmer.
Why do people tend to prioritise everything else before sleep?
I think it’s partly because sleep doesn’t always feel urgent. If we’re busy, it’s often the easiest thing to sacrifice because we convince ourselves we’ll make up for it later. Work, family and everyday responsibilities naturally take priority, and before you know it, staying up a little later has become a habit.
I think we sometimes underestimate just how much sleep influences how we feel each day. That’s why conversations like this are so valuable – they encourage us to stop and think about something that’s fundamental to our wellbeing.
Has your perspective on sleep changed over the years?
I probably saw sleep as something I could compromise on in the past.
Since partnering with The Sleep Charity, I’ve learned much more about the important role sleep plays in our wellbeing. More importantly, I’ve started putting some of that advice into practice myself and have genuinely noticed the difference.
I now make more of an effort to prioritise sleep whenever I can, and I’ve found that I feel more refreshed, more positive and better equipped for the day ahead. It’s something I’ve come to value far more than I used to.
Has there been a personal experience that has shaped your understanding of sleep?
Yes, there has. A while ago I decided it was time to lose some weight. It had been creeping up on me over the years and I knew I needed to make some changes.
Like most people, I started researching healthier eating habits, the best foods to eat, intermittent fasting, exercise and other ways to improve my overall health. One thing that kept coming up time and time again was sleep.
I learned more about the important role sleep plays in the body’s repair and recovery. It certainly reinforced the value of sleep for me. I realised that if I was making the effort to eat better and improve my overall health, then getting a good night’s sleep needed to be part of that too.
What does your own evening wind-down routine look like?
As part of my own health journey, I started paying much more attention to my evening routine. One habit I’ve really enjoyed is going for a 20–30 minute walk after dinner, weather permitting. I find it’s a great way to unwind after the day and create a bit of separation between work and home life.
I’ve also adopted what I call a “kitchen closed” rule. Wherever possible, I stop eating around three hours before I go to bed. It helps me avoid late-night snacking and gives me a clear end to the day.
About an hour before bed, I enjoy a mug of golden milk with turmeric, cinnamon and a few other spices. I drink it slowly over 10–15 minutes and really enjoy it as part of my ritual.
Then I finish the day with a good book. Reading helps me switch off far better than scrolling through my phone, and it’s become my favourite way to wind down before going to sleep.
How can Heat Holders help create a comfortable environment to prepare for sleep?
Heat Holders has a range of products to help keep you warm and cosy, especially on those cold, dark autumn and winter evenings. Heat Holders loungewear and PJs are wonderfully soft and comfortable, and paired with our lounge socks and a cosy fleece blanket, it’s a lovely way to settle down with a warm drink and a good book. What better way to wind down for a few of hours before bed?
What’s one piece of sleep advice you’d give everyone this autumn?
Break the cycle and start a new wind-down routine to get your body and mind relaxed, ready for sleep. If you’re anything like me, you’ll notice the difference!
Make sleep a priority this Sleeptember
This Sleeptember, I’d encourage everyone to take a little more time to think about their sleep. I’ve certainly learned to appreciate just how important a good night’s sleep is and, from my own experience, even small changes to your evening routine can make a difference to how you feel.
For practical advice and trusted support, I’d encourage people to get involved with Sleeptember by downloading The Sleep Charity’s supporter pack and exploring its free sleep resources. You can also find more ideas on the Heat Holders blog about making sleep a priority this autumn.
For us at Heat Holders, our role is much simpler: helping people feel warm, comfortable and cosy as they wind down at the end of the day. If our partnership with The Sleep Charity encourages more people to think about their sleep and make it more of a priority this autumn, that can only be a good thing.
