23rd May 2025

Bank holiday duvet days: are they a good guilty pleasure or bad for our health? Panda London explores.

With the fifth bank holiday of the year right around the corner, many of us are wondering just how to spend our extra day off. For those not jetting off on a city break or heading to bottomless brunch, a duvet day might be on the cards – because who doesn’t relish the idea of spending a whole day in bed (or on the sofa) wrapped up in a snuggly duvet while bingeing the latest Netflix series and eating their favourite snacks?

Duvet days can be really beneficial for our health. They can give your nervous system the chance to recover from stress, as you’re able to relax both the body and mind. This can even reduce high cortisol levels, which over time can lead to burnout. Resting also helps to boost the production of both endorphins and serotonin, which means a better mood and more positivity.

Consultant counselling psychologist Dr Ritika Suk Birah says “I often remind people that we don’t always need to be ‘on’. The occasional duvet day can be a powerful way to honour that. We take time out to recover when we’re physically unwell, and our mental health deserves that same care. It doesn’t just have to be about watching something on screen; a duvet day can be about rest in all its forms. From catching up on sleep, reading, mindful colouring, to simply doing nothing at all.

We live in a culture that often equates rest with laziness, but psychologically, the ability to pause is essential for nervous system regulation and emotional resilience. A duvet day creates space to come back to yourself, not to take a break from what may be going on, but to process it more gently.”

This mental downtime also supports cognitive function, allowing the brain to consolidate memory and process emotions and information. The simple act of ‘doing nothing’ is actually doing something, as rest is incredibly productive. We all need to slow down sometimes and if a bank holiday duvet day is the way you choose to do that, then it won’t do you any harm. Choose a lightweight, breathable duvet like Panda’s Cloud Bamboo Duvet; feather-free and thermoregulating, it will stop you getting too hot while you’re snuggling down to read a few chapters or tuning in to your favourite show.

Currently 10% off in Panda’s bank holiday sale, the duvet is obviously the star of the show – but it doesn’t stop there. For the perfect duvet day, gather plenty of drinks (it’s important to stay hydrated) as well as snacks that won’t cause you to get crumbs in the bed… You’ll need something to keep you entertained like books or magazines, or even your hobby if it’s something you can do while cosy like colouring, crocheting or crossword puzzles. With 33% of us spending time on screens for six hours per day or more, according to the Panda 2025 Sleep Report, it’s important that we don’t spend our duvet days glued to tablets, phones and laptops. Try to opt for screen-free activities!

Also on offer with 10% off this bank holiday are Panda’s three dreamy bedding ranges, Memory Foam Bamboo Pillow, award-winning Memory Foam Mattress Topper, bath products, the Panda Kids™ range and other accessories. The Panda Hybrid Bamboo Mattress range is a steal with 20% off, and you can take comfort to new heights with their Hybrid Bamboo Pillow at 15% off.

Remember, while the occasional duvet day is a wonderful act of self-care, it can have a negative impact in the long term. Spending day after day in bed increases your risk of blood clots, can cause muscle weakness and may even contribute to insomnia. Your body is a clever thing, and it needs to see the bed as the place you sleep – not the place where you regularly work, watch TV, enjoy your hobbies and so on.

So what’s the verdict? A bank holiday duvet day is a great way to relax and recharge, and Panda’s range of comfortable, breathable bamboo bedding accessories help take that R&R to a whole new level. Just don’t indulge in duvet days too often, as they can have their downsides…

Notes to editor:

About Panda

Panda, founded in 2015, is an award-winning sleep brand highly recommended by many publications. The brand have many accolades, including the Which? Best Buy award for the Bamboo Mattress Topper in both 2024 and 2025, the T3 Platinum award for the Hybrid Bamboo Mattress Pro, and many more from Good Housekeeping, Ideal Home and The Telegraph. They craft their luxurious bedding and homeware using bamboo sourced from the world’s most sustainable forests. Their range combines the latest sleep technology with the abundant benefits of nature, including their Bamboo Memory Foam Pillows, HydroFoam™ Mattress Topper, Cloud Duvet™, 100% Bamboo Bedding, Sleep Accessories, Bath and Bamboo Kids products. They are currently available at many major retailers, including Next and Debenhams. 

Boilerplate:

Panda is a luxury homeware brand with a planet-friendly heart. Panda empowers consumers with eco-friendly choices of home essentials. Bamboo inspires their multi-award-winning bedding, towels and natural homeware. By bringing bamboo mainstream, Panda offers consumers ethical comfort for the joy of home.

Connect with Panda at https://pandalondon.com or @Pandalondon on Instagram.

Further notes to editor:

Learn more about bamboo

The Panda Circle of Life initiative offers free collection and recycling for all Panda products (including mattresses) at the end of use – one of a kind service in the industry

Panda London is working to become fully carbon neutral by 2030
All products are now 100% vegan-friendly
Panda have won many industry awards, from The Sleep Advisors, T3, Good Housekeeping and more

Media Contact Details
PANDA LIFE LTD
26 IRVING WAY
LONDON
NW9 6AQ

Tommy-Joe Reardon
02089355380
press@pandalondon.com
https://pandalondon.com