It’s a well-known fact that the light emitted from our smart devices and televisions can hurt our sleep cycles. But believe it or not, there are some technologies that can actually help you get a better night’s rest. Here are seven devices you may want to consider to help you get better shuteye.
1. Sleep Cycle: Download this 99-cent app and place your phone under your mattress before you hit the hay and it will analyze your sleep patterns using the accelerometer in your smartphone. The app's alarm clock uses a 30-minute alarm window that ends at your set alarm time and wakes you in your lightest sleep phase, making you feel more rested than ever before.
2. ReST Smart Mattresses: Equipped with sensors, these mattresses automatically adjust to your body’s pressure points as you move throughout the night. When you wake up, you can open the ReST mobile app to see how you slept the night before. The mattress’ 18 sensors inflate and deflate based on whether you prefer a firm or soft mattress without disrupting your sleep. They aren’t cheap, however, costing upwards of $5,000 depending on the mattress size. ReST is available for preorder and will start shipping in March.
3. Sleep Genius: Sleep Genius has a relaxation program that was created to reduce stress and anxiety before bed. Acoustically modified music aims to slow your cardiac and respiratory systems as well as reduce tension in your mind. Try the 30-minute program in a quiet space before you’re ready to go to sleep for a better night’s rest.
4. Lark Alarm Clock: Not a fan of annoying alarm clock buzzing? This silent alarm clock and sleep tracker will wake you with a gentle vibration and analyze your sleeping habits. It also sets goals for how many hours of sleep you should be getting to feel rested and reminders so you stay on track.
5. SleepShield: Many of us are glued to our smart devices before bed, and the blue light hurts our sleep cycle. Enter SleepShield, a transparent, scratch-proof screen protector that reduces the amount of blue light your smart device emits.
6. Aura: This bedside device emits orange light that promotes the secretion of melatonin, the hormone responsible for your sleep-wake cycle when you’re dozing off. In the morning, it emits blue light that inhibits melatonin production to increase your alertness. It also records your entire sleep environment to help you understand whether small sounds or lights in your room are preventing you from getting the best night of sleep possible.
7. Somnus Sleep Shirt by Nyx Devices: This form-fitting, sensor-embedded shirt measures your breathing patterns through the night. Your patterns are logged with a SleepLogger, a small chip worn in a pocket of the shirt that transfers the data to the web platform, where you can see how you slept the night before.