By RMHP
Sadly, more than one-third of adults in the U.S. are not getting enough sleep on a regular basis. Not getting enough sleep can affect your mood in the morning, but few people are aware of the other serious consequences of lack of sleep. Running low on sleep can negatively affect your concentration, problem-solving skills, alertness, and memory — and that’s not the worst of it. Coming up short on sleep night after night can also put you at a higher risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease.
If you find yourself falling short on sleep, it’s important that you make sleep a priority. Fortunately, these three popular sleep apps may help you finally get a good night’s rest.
The Calm app may be ideal for those whose minds stay racing while trying to sleep. When you can’t quiet your mind, try a guided meditation session. Each session is around ten minutes long, so they’re easy to fit into a pre-bedtime routine. Follow the narrator’s simple instructions to clear your mind and relax your body so you can finally drift off to sleep.
This app also features sleep stories, which are short bedtime stories told by narrators with soft, soothing voices. Tuning out the rest of the world to focus on one of these bedtime stories can help slow down your thoughts so you can sleep more soundly.
The key to feeling refreshed in the morning is waking up in one of the early stages of your sleep cycle. Fortunately, there’s an app for that.
The Sleep Cycle app uses sound and motion detection technology to track your progression through the different stages of your nightly sleep cycle. If you choose to set an alarm, it will not go off until you are in the lightest stage of sleep possible within a 30-minute window before and after the set time. This helps you wake up feeling rested and recharged, rather than groggy.
The app also provides a wealth of additional information on your sleep habits. The easy-to-read graph it generates can help you learn how many times you woke up, how long you slept, and whether or not you got enough deep sleep.
Although the Noisli app uses relaxing sounds to help users sleep like many other sleep apps, Noisli sets itself apart by allowing users to create custom combinations of sounds that they find relaxing.
For example, you can combine the sounds of owls and crickets with the sound of a crackling fireplace. If you prefer water noises, create a peaceful sleeping environment by combining the sound of waves crashing on the beach with the sound of a thunderstorm. There are countless combinations, so you can experiment with different sounds until you find the perfect sleep soundtrack for you.
These apps are all available on Android and iOS devices. Download one or more of these apps on your smartphone or tablet so you can wake up feeling refreshed and ready to start your day!