I Can’t Sleep! What Do I Do?
As technology continues to reshape every facet of our lives, one thing remains clear: it is here to stay. Sometimes we forget to slow down that we don’t even notice how technology impacts us on a personal level.
It even affects the way we sleep.
We’ve all been there. Technology has altered our circadian rhythm one way or another – keeping us up when playing online games or scrolling through our feeds. Studies have shown common types of diseases.
So the question is… what’s stopping us from using technology to get more ZZZs? Sleep may take a back seat with personal and professional relationships hovering over us every second of every day. Which is why introducing a sleep app to your daily routine may help you get that much-needed shuteye.
Headspace
Founded by Andy Puddicombe, an ordained Buddhist monk, Headspace is the perfect tool for people that need to hit the pause button. The app offers detailed and structured courses that aid users in managing stress through mindfulness and meditation.
Headspace is also a great app for beginners as it walks you through simple muscle and breathing exercises that would not only help you deal with stress but also help you achieve better sleep. The app teaches a few tricks daily and has an extensive collection of simple meditation practices if you sign up– and signing up is free!
Calm
Calm is an app that specializes in guided meditation and mindfulness practices that helps you deal with stress. With Calm, you have complete control of the app experience as it lets you determine the problems you want to address using the application.
Anxiety? There’s a guide for that!
Stress? There’s a guide for that!
Trouble sleeping? There’s a guide for that!
One thing that sets Calm apart is its structure. Calm not only helps you deal with stress and anxiety but also assists you in developing a habit. The app suggests starting with a meditation series called “7 Days of Calm” which is an introductory series to mindfulness and meditation. This week-long series will walk you through the different ways you could alleviate your stress levels in daily 10-minute guided sessions.
SleepCycle
True to its name, SleepCycle is an app that helps you manage your sleep/wake cycle. In an age when sleep deprivation ultimately leads to sleep disorders, SleepCycle acts as a remedy to ensure that your sleep cycle does not go haywire. The app helps you understand your sleeping patterns and suggests ways to improve your sleeping habits. SleepCycle is fully integrated with the Apple ecosystem so you don’t have to wonder if it would work with your Apple Watch or if it would sync with your Apple Health.
The best thing about SleepCycle? Its freemium subscription is amazing! It offers sleep analysis,a nightly sleep graph, and a database export so that you could get a better picture of your sleep patterns.
Pzizz
Pzizz is a fairly straightforward app. It lets you choose (right off the bat!) if you need help with focusing, napping, or sleeping and suggests a plan for you. Customization is a key trait that sets Pzizz apart. You will be able to raise or lower the music or voice volume to your liking, choose between a female or a male voice, and even schedule an alarm to wake you up.
Pzizz has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from respected publications such as TheNew York Times, Wired, Engadget, Lifehacker, and more.
Slumber
Slumber is an app that focuses on talk-oriented sleep-inducing programs. Healthline has described Slumber as an app that’s designed to help you beat insomnia so you can fall asleep quickly. The app’s main selling point is its sleep stories. Sleep stories put you in a calm and relaxed state making it easier for you to fall asleep.
The app also offers a variety of white noise tracks that provide a soothing backdrop for up to 10 hours of playtime. You also have complete control of sounds with the in-app individual volume controller.
Pillow
Pillow is an app that tracks your sleep. It has been featured in The New York Times, Forbes,The Guardian, BuzzFeed, The Washington Post, TechCrunch, among others. Similar to SleepCycle, Pillow uses various motion and audio sensors to monitor and understand your sleep patterns. The gathered data is then analyzed by Pillow’s algorithm to illustrate your REM, light sleep, and deep sleep phases.
The best part? Pillow offers personalized instructions and recommendations based on your sleep cycles. Based on your sleep insights, Pillow may even suggest the best time for you to go to bed!
10% Happier
Currently sitting 92nd on the best-rated health & fitness apps in the App Store, 10% Happier (or just Happier as we like to call it) offers guided meditation, sleep aids, and habit-forming content that help you gain a better perspective of your everyday life.
The brainchild of ABC news anchor Dan Harris, 10% Happier was developed after Harris experienced a nationally-televised panic attack back in 2004. Instead of letting the event slip from memory, Harris saw it as an opportunity to speak his truth. His on-screen panic attack prompted Harris to write a book that talks about his search for a better way to deal with what he calls the voice inside his head. With in-app coaches, a mindfulness tracker, and insightful talks about a balanced life, this app has it all!
White Noise Life
If it makes you uneasy listening to other people’s voices as you try to fall asleep, then White Noise Lite is your sleeping app. Highly-rated by the American Sleep Association, White Noise Lite offers a plethora of high-quality sounds such as howling winds, crashing waves, and pouring rain that set the mood for a relaxing sleep. It also has additional features that include an alarm clock, AirPlay support, and a variety of customizable settings.
Sleepo
Much like White Noise Lite, Sleepo has an extensive collection of high-definition sounds that can be mixed with soothing ambiances. The app also allows you to find the perfect combination of sounds, based on your preference, to create a calm sleeping environment.
Pick from 32 carefully-curated sounds categorized in four groups – rain, nature, city, and meditation – and use the in-app timer designed to automatically stop the app after you have drifted off to sleep.
Noisli
Noisli is an app known to boost focus and productivity – but did you know it can also help you fall asleep? Noisli includes a diverse selection of high-definition sounds to help you focus and concentrate while working or studying, relax while reading or before going to sleep, and boost your creativity. Its features include offline sounds, a save function for your favorite mixes, and a timer with fade out function.
The best thing about Noisli? Its ease-of-use. The look, feel, and usability of Noisli add to its overall functionality without compromising its aesthetic.
These are only some of the plethora of apps out there to help you sleep better. In our next installment, we would be talking about the different mobile applications that focus on monitoring your overall health and wellness.
Technology continues to evolve at such a rapid pace, so why not utilize it to slow down, take a breather, and improve your well-being?
Keywords:
- Sleep
- Sleep deprivation
- Sleep disorder
- Sleepless night
- Personal wellness
- Wellness check
