The course of your day is decided long before you’ve even drunk your first cup of coffee. As you already know, sleep is essential for your well-being, and any case of a restless night results in grogginess and irritableness. Even if you found a hundred bucks on the street, you wouldn’t be able to enjoy the moment when completely exhausted.
Unfortunately, we’re overloaded with stimuli during the day, so it’s hard to fall asleep at night. With so many people battling problems with sleep, a thriving industry has sprouted. Besides purchasing a weighted blanket Canada or a blackout eye mask, you might turn to technology to catch the Z. Noise-canceling earbuds, white noise machines, relaxation apps, and artificial dawns – those are a few of the options you may use.
Being constantly sleep-deprived, you might feel like you’re missing out on life. Read on to try the technological gadgets below and see whether any of those work for you.
White Noise Machine
White noise machines are among the most popular sleep technology products on the market today. They have proven to be helpful for people who have trouble falling asleep, especially hospital patients, as well as colicky babies and young children.
How does a white noise machine work? It uses various sounds, including static, wind, ocean waves, rain, and even lullabies. Different sounds are blended together to produce a calming effect that’s supposed to help you fall asleep. You can also use them in the daytime if you want to study or work in peace.
A white noise machine is inexpensive and easy to find. However, they are not perfect. For example, they can be less effective if you live near an airport or a noisy neighbor. Moreover, some people claim that the sound is too monotonous for them.
Relaxation Apps
There are numerous relaxation apps on the market today, but one of the most popular ones is Headspace. It teaches users to meditate through several guided sessions that last around 10 minutes each.
It uses different meditative techniques such as mindful breathing, body scan, and yoga. Those techniques are used to reduce stress and anxiety and improve focus. You can use the app as often as you want and create a personalized game plan with challenges and rewards for yourself.
However, there are other meditation apps out there that are similar to Headspace – for example, Calm and Pacifica. They are all aimed at improving mental health through guided meditations that help you relax and deal with stress better.
Artificial Dawn
Artificial dawn is a sunrise simulator that helps you wake up gently instead of being woken up by an alarm clock. It mimics the sunrise by gradually increasing light to simulate how the sun rises during the day.
How does an artificial dawn work? You set it on your bedside table, and it illuminates your room when you set an alarm at night. It starts by turning on a dim light, then brightens gradually until it reaches full brightness. This natural wake-up call is supposed to help you wake up more easily and naturally than if you were to be woken up by an abrupt alarm tone.
Noise-Canceling Earbuds
Noise-canceling earbuds are great for anyone living or working in a noisy environment. They are handy for people who have difficulty falling asleep due to noise from the street, heavy snoring, a crying baby, and other such problems.
How do noise-canceling earbuds work? They use microphones to pick up ambient noise and generate opposite sound waves that cancel out unwanted sounds. This way, you can achieve better focus, less stress, and fall asleep easier. On average, noise-canceling earbuds can reduce outside noise by an average of 35dB.
Fitness Tracker and Sleep Monitor
If you’re interested in improving your sleep quality, you might want to consider a fitness tracker with a built-in sleep monitor. You can wear it on your wrist while you sleep. It monitors your sleep patterns, heart rate, breathing, and movements, thus giving you feedback to make the necessary changes.
What makes this gadget stand out is that it tracks how much time you spend sleeping, how many times you wake up during the night, and how well you get back to sleep. You can also set daily reminders to go to bed at a particular hour.
However, having a fitness tracker with a sleep monitor isn’t all fun and games. The downside is that some models can be rather expensive or may not always be comfortable to wear. Moreover, some people have claimed that these gadgets don’t pick up their movements accurately.
Essential Oil Diffuser
Aromatherapy is a quite popular alternative treatment for insomnia and other sleeping problems. Essential oils are used to relieve stress and anxiety, improve sleep, and boost memory. Lavender is one of the most popular essential oils for sleep, along with chamomile and bergamot.
A diffuser is a device that disperses essential oils into the air. You can set it on your nightstand or anywhere else in your bedroom. The scent of the oil, along with the warmth and light of the diffuser, is supposed to help you fall asleep faster and have a better sleep quality.
Conclusion
Sleep is a necessity for your well-being and health, so don’t wait until it’s too late to make changes. If you want to fall asleep faster, there are many ways to do it. You can take natural supplements or medications, practice relaxation techniques, or try technological devices.
Technology is constantly evolving, and the list of gadgets that promise to help you sleep better is ever-growing. The choice is yours, but what’s important is that there’s no substitute for healthy habits. The most important factor affecting your sleep quality is your own routine, so be sure to stick to a bedtime ritual.
