The Apps That Are Helping Us Sleep

These days, smartphones get a lot of bad press for being the root cause of many people's sleepless nights, but have you ever thought that your gadget could actually help you drift off to the land of nod, not hinder? With a wonderful world of apps out there, we're taking a look at some of the ones that could actually help you to get a good night's kip. So sit tight, relax and get ready for the dreams that'll ensue… For drifting off For some, the notion of counting sheep is simply a no-go. Instead, there are many apps these days that play peaceful music, nature sounds and even the sound of rain for you to fall asleep to. Relax Melodies Apps such as this one play a range of peaceful noises to help you drift of more easily. Ranging from the sounds of a river, the rain and a calming campfire to the more obscure such as a vacuum, a fan or even a purring cat, this app allows you to choose the sound you find most soothing, and settle down for a peaceful night's rest. Headspace Strictly speaking, Headspace is an app that teaches you how to meditate, become more mindful, and to generally become happier, though it can also do wonders for aiding your sleep. For free, you can take part in ten meditation sessions, before purchasing many more hours of meditation time. The app has been very well received, and even allows you to join a Headspace community, so you can send some meditation motivation to your friends. While you're sleeping Keeping track of the quality of your actual sleep can help you determine just how much of it you need. Apps that do this often give you a better insight into how you're sleeping, so you can adjust your habits for the better. Sleep Cycle Available for both Android and iPhone, Sleep Cycle senses the movements you make during sleep to determine whether you're in a state of light or deep sleep, so you can track how well you've rested. It uses this data to form many graphs, so you can compare your sleep quality over the course of the week. It also has the functionality to wake you during a period of light sleep with some really gentle music, so you don't feel as though you've been too disturbed when you have to get up. Beddit Taking the sleep-monitoring up a level, Beddit includes a sensor that you place on your bed, which sends information for you to view on a smartphone app. It tracks your resting heart rate, how long you're actually asleep for, as well as your breathing - it can even tell you if you snore! It can also help you to improve your sleep as you learn more about it. Wake up calls No one likes being jolted awake in the middle of what was the best night's rest you've had in ages, that's why apps that track your sleep like Sleep Cycle have an in-built alarm to wake you during a period of lighter sleep. This way, you wake up feeling refreshed, rather than annoyed that you have to get up. Simply set the time period you need to be awake by, and it'll track your sleep accordingly so you wake up to a nice, soothing, not-too-chirpy tune. For a more traditional alarm clock, or if you're not bothered about tracking your sleep pattern, apps such as Alarm Clock Pro let you customise what you'll wake up to, as well as set a playlist to fall asleep to. You can also turn it into a flash light, or just use it as a clock - neat! As well as using the wonders of modern technology to help you get a proper night's kip, there are plenty of other habits you can get into. Take some time to find an evening routine that suites you; for example, you might find reading for half an hour before bed helps you to drift off, or perhaps having a warm drink lets your body know it's time to wind down. However you do it, sleep is such an individual thing - but there are plenty of devices out there to help you to get the best rest possible.