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When you think about the connection between technology and sleep, you probably think about the negatives. Experts advise us to stay off of our devices in the evening to avoid stimulation from artificial blue light that suppresses our melatonin production and makes it more difficult for us to fall asleep.
Image credit: Vladislav Muslakov via Unsplash
What you may not be thinking about is all the ways in which technology is helping us get better sleep.
Whether you’re struggling with falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up feeling well-rested, there’s a technology out there working to help you maximize on your sleep quality. Check out these top technologies that can help you enhance your sleep.
Sleep apps
Possibly the most convenient of the options, sleep apps provide a simple way to monitor your sleep right from your phone. Whether you’re an Android or Apple user, there’s an app out there that can help you get the sleep you need.
Here’s a list of a few great options to check out:
- Calm: A meditation app to reduce stress and improve sleep
- Sleep Cycle: It will wake you up when you’re least groggy according to your sleep cycle
- Relax Melodies: Soothing sounds that will lull you to sleep
Sleep trackers
Whether you prefer a wearable device or a bedside monitor, there are various devices that can monitor your sleep and give you feedback to help improve your sleep.
In the world of wearables, there’s the Biostrap Sleep Lab technology. This measures your sleep stages and various biometrics including heart rate, oxygen saturation, and respiration rate. The system connects with your phone where you can receive sleep analytics and even print out a report to share with a specialist if you are working to treat medical conditions.
If a bedside monitor is more your style, the SleepScore Max from SleepScore Labs may be right for you. This device can read and detect movements in your body while you’re sleeping. By using ultra-lower power radio waves, the monitor can measure your breathing and movements during the night. It then uses an algorithm to give you a daily SleepScore between 0 and 100.
Smart beds and mattresses
You can now integrate your bed with your smart home. Smart mattresses can help you fall asleep faster by controlling your bed’s temperature, wake you up without an alarm, and provide you with detailed sleep reports on your sleep. There are already a large amount of options on the market, so it’s up to you to decide which one is best for you.
If having digital technology in your bed is too advanced for you, don’t worry. The technology being used to build regular mattresses now too is more advanced, working to improve important qualities like responsiveness, durability, pressure relief, and spinal alignment. Some brands even offer ways for you to customize your mattress according to your specific needs. You can even make your mattress personal to you now.
Other devices worth mentioning
There are many unique products arising in the sleep technology space. Their functions range across many variables, but each provides a valuable asset to get better sleep.
Wake-up lights
If light bothers you while you’re sleeping, you may have taken to hanging up blackout curtains. But how do you navigate the challenges of waking up naturally in a completely dark room that doesn’t allow natural sunlight? This is where wake-up lights come in. Mimicking the natural rising of the sun, a wake-up light can help you do just what it says: wake up!
Awair
While having plants can be one way to work towards having better air quality in your bedroom, Awair enhances your knowledge of your air quality by tracking fine dust and chemicals in your air and giving you customized recommendations for keeping your air clean. More pure air = easier breathing = better sleep.
Nest
Nest is a learning thermostat that can program itself. It can learn what kind of temperature you like and set a schedule to keep you comfortable in the morning and cool at night so you can sleep peacefully.
Essential oil diffusers
Easy to install and enjoyable to use, essential oil diffusers allow you to turn your bedroom into a sleep oasis. Scents such as lavender, cedarwood, and chamomile are known to help you relax, wind down, and experience a great night of sleep.
Dreem
One of the most advanced technologies on the market, Dreem is a wearable headband device whose custom electroencephalography (EEG) sensors monitor your brainwaves as you sleep. Its biofeedback system can then analyze your brain activity and emit pink/white noise to help enhance your deep sleep.
The future of sleep
As technology continues to advance, there is no telling how much agency we will soon have over improving our sleep. As for now, take advantage of these great options that are available, but remember to avoid using too much technology before bed!
Author’s bio
Laurie Larson is freelancer based in NC. She writes on health and lifestyle topics.