Sleep can be hard to come by sometimes. Whether you’re dealing with a mountain of stress, a racing mind that refuses to shut off when you hit the sheets, or straight-up insomnia that has plagued you for years, a lack of sleep can just add to your woes. One of the number one tips for getting a better night’s rest involves putting your iPhone away before bed and minimizing screen time to prevent blue light from interfering with your sleep cycles. But there’s one exception to that rule: sometimes your phone can be a helpful sleep aid. There are a number of sleeping apps out there that can lull you into a more peaceful and serene state. But with all of the options at your fingertips, it can be a challenge choosing just one. Tech Expert Lucia Chang, who is the founder and owner of Senior Wing, is no stranger to sleep issues and sleep apps. These are the two sleeping apps that she says practically guarantee a good night’s rest.
Relax and Sleep Well by Glenn Harrold
Chang’s top recommendation for sleep apps is this pick: Relax and Sleep Well by Glenn Harrold. “It offers about 140 hypnotherapy and meditation recordings, several of which are free,” Chang said. “What you’ll first notice about a recording is the soothing quality of Glenn’s voice, encouraging script, and hypnotic soundtrack. The next thing you’ll notice is that you just woke up from a sound night of sleep! I have been using this app to fall asleep quickly since 2012, which shows how effective and enduring it is.”
Sleep Cycle
Like many other sleep apps, Sleep Cycle offers relaxing recordings that include ambient sounds, music, stories, and sleep coaching. Where it stands out, Chang says, is in its ability to track and analyze your sleep.
“Each morning, you see your cycles of deep versus light sleep, sleep and wake times, and even evidence of coughing, sleep talking, or snoring,” Chang said. (which can be a helpful clue into potential sleep issues you may be facing such as sleep apnea). “Faced with hard data, I had to acknowledge that my daytime activities were affecting my sleep quality at night. Drinking coffee in the afternoon degraded it significantly, while exercising boosted it. Another useful feature is the smart alarm, which gently wakes you when you’re in a light sleep cycle, so you feel more rested.”
Both of these are free and highly rated (Relax and Sleep Well has a 4.8-star rating on the App Store, while Sleep Cycle has a 4.7-star rating). Try one or both of them this week and give yourself the gift of better sleep.
