How to sleep better: 10 sleep apps and tricks to try

We all know how important it is to get eight hours sleep a nightfor both our health and complexion—hell, media power player Ariana Huffington even wrote a book about it.

Unfortunately, sometimes life (read: Game of Thrones) gets in the way, but these tech-savvy sleep apps and gadgets might just help get you over the line.

RELATED: Natural ways to get a better sleep

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Acquaint yourself with the next wave of ‘silent’ alarm clocks, screen dimmers, and gradual LED light alarms, all promising to help you clock up your beauty sleep.

1. WAKE-UP LIGHT

“I always try to make my bedroom very dark,” Huffington says. “When I travel I pack scarfs to drape over the blinking light in hotel rooms. This product combines an alarm clock with light therapy, slowly waking you with light that simulates a sunrise—moving from red to soft orange to yellow—along with a choice of natural sounds. Consider it if you’re looking to start your day more in sync with nature.”

2. SLEEP BRACELET

Touted as ‘a watch with a wellbeing effect’, Phillip Stein’s watches, which come in a range of styles, incorporate Natural Frequency Technologies that pick up natural, beneficial frequencies around the wearer which and work to reset the body to its most optimised state.
Its biggest point of difference between other wearable tech is, quite simply, that it looks like a normal watch—in fact, it’s chic enough that its favoured by the likes of Victoria Beckham, Jessica Alba and Oprah, to name a few. Scientific studies published by the Sleep Diagnosis and Therapy Journal found that wearers saw results including stress resilience, better sleeping patterns and even decreased arthritis symptoms. A fashion statement and holistic treatment all in one—we can get on board with that.

3. ALARM CLOCK

Either an utter nightmare or a blessing in for those amongst us who are a bit too liberal with the snooze alarm, the Clocky works as a alarm clock that rolls off your table as soon as you press the snooze button. The idea is that it rolls away and you have to chase it, forcing you to physically get out of bed.

4. SLEEP TALK APP

Ever wanted to find out whether you talk, or snore, once the lights go out? A free app, Dream Talk essentially records your sleep sounds and then lets you listen to what you’re saying, and when you say it.

5. BLUE LIGHT APP

As a general rule, electronics before bedtime is a strict no-go due to the adverse effects of LED lights on your quality of sleep. However, f.lux have developed a desktop app that gradually dims your laptop or computer according to the time of day, to reduce the effects of LED-lit screen lights. So for those times when you really must use your laptop right before you hit the hay, this is yourbest bet.

6. ANTI-SNORE PILLOW

A lot more high-tech and comfortable than wearing a mouth guard, Anti-Snore Pillow works as a rechargeable, contoured memory foam pillow that fits in a standard pillow case. The built-in sound sensors are able to detect the sound of snoring which then automatically inflates the internal airbag by three inches before decreasing immediately. The result of the gentle nudge prompts the sleeper to change positions and stop snoring. Worried you’d be woken up all night? The pillow features multiple setting for light to heavy sleepers.

7. SLEEP MASK

Not just your traditional eye mask, the Remee puts you in control of the virtual reality of your mind by emitting light patterns that only your dreaming brain can process. Technically termed lucid dreaming, it allows the dreamer to realise they’re dreaming and do things like fly, solve problems to even practicing a real-life skills. It’s a bit Vanilla Sky for our liking, but we have to admit we’re desperate to give it a go.

8. SLEEP CYCLE APP

Dubbed ‘an intelligent alarm clock’, Sleep Cycle works as a sleep analyser and sensor that analyses your sleep cycle and wakes you up when you’re in your lightest sleep phase. Your body naturally falls into four degrees of sleep, REM sleep being the heaviest, and by waking up during the lightest degree your body will naturally feel more rested and alert versus groggy and tired.

9. SLEEP MUSIC APP

Relax melodies allows users to customise their own ‘sleep mix’ inspired by natural sounds, in order to relax and fall asleep. With options like ‘rain on tent’, ‘campfire’, and ‘ocean’, everything from the volume of each individual layer of sound is customisable, and the program can be used while doing yoga or while meditating, studying or working. Another feature of this app is the use of ‘binaural beats’ which are sounds that send pulsations that help alter your brain state from loss of body awareness to higher mental activity and increased creativity.

10. HYPNOSIS APP

Although this might seem little left field, bear with us when we say that these podcasts may actually work.The app features a 15 minute guided hypnosis that forces your mind and body to relax, and fall into a deeper and more restorative period sleep. Other hypnosis programs include ‘Instant Confidence Boost’, ‘Confident Public Speaking’, and ‘Instant Anxiety Relief’. Where do we sign up?Main image credit: GettyDo you have any tips to help drift off to sleep?