Many people underestimate the importance of a good night’s sleep. Sleep is one of the three pillars of a healthy life, the other two being diet and exercise. During sleep, your body cells get repaired, your brain stores new information, and you get the rest and energy you need to take on a new day. Fortunately, if you’re sleep deprived, you can use technology to help deal with your sleepiness. And while it’s true that using a smartphone or playing video games on your PC before bed can make it harder for you to fall asleep, there are certain types of technologies that can help you sleep better. A good example is the use of a breathable weighted blanket. This heavy blanket helps you sleep better by regulating your body temperature. Another excellent technology that improves sleep is a blue light blocker that blocks the emission of blue light from screens at night. If you’re looking for other cool technologies that can help you get some shut-eye, here are seven more such tools and how you can use them for better sleep. 1. White Noise Machines for Blocking Disruptive Noise A white noise machine can help you sleep better by masking out noise. For instance, white noise machines have been used in hospitals to help critically ill patients sleep better. If you’re a light sleeper or live in a noisy neighborhood, you can also download a white noise app or buy a white noise machine to improve your sleep quality. Examples of white noises often found on such machines include: Sound of falling rain Sound of static Nature sounds Distant thunderstorms 2. Weighted Blankets That Promote Relaxation A weighted blanket provides Deep Pressure Touch (DPT), which helps you relax. Wrapping yourself in a weighted blanket also feels like being given a giant hug as the blanket is warm, soft, and cozy. The grounding provided by a weighted blanket also triggers the release of feel-good hormones that help your body sleep more deeply. 3. Smart Bulbs That Help Control Light Brightness Smart bulbs can help control the brightness in your bedroom at night. Your body’s cardiac rhythm, which regulates alertness and sleepiness, changes according to the amount of light in your environment. During the day, this 24-hour clock signals your body to stay awake. However, when the sun sets and darkness sets in, the circadian rhythm will signal your brain and body that it’s time to sleep. Unfortunately, bright light from bulbs and screens can throw your internal clock off, making it harder for your body to go to sleep at night. The good news is that smart bulbs help adjust the hues in your bedroom to what is going on outside. The result is that you fall asleep faster and wake up more restful. 4. Meditation Apps That Help Your Body Calm Down Meditation apps have a library of guided meditations that people suffering from insomnia and other sleep disorders can use for better sleep. These apps will sometimes also have bedtime stories, breathing exercises, sounds, and music that can help with relaxation. The good news is that many of these apps offer a free trial which you can use to sample the guided meditations available. If you like the app, you can then sign up for a monthly or annual subscription. 5. Sleep Trackers That Track the Quality of Your Sleep Sleep trackers give you insights into when you’re asleep and awake. These smart devices are often worn on the wrist or finger while sleeping. A sleep tracker will give you information such as the days when you’re having restless sleep. Such information can help you change environmental and lifestyle factors that may be affecting your sleep quality. For instance, if you notice you toss and turn in bed more when you have caffeine at noon, you can limit your caffeine intake to morning hours. Some trackers will also record environmental features that may be influencing your sleep, such as the room temperature or light brightness. 6. Smart Alarms That Help Control Your Sleep and Wake Time Most people use their smartphone’s alarm to wake them up. Unfortunately, mobile phones emit blue light, which is unhealthy for your sleep. The good news is that a smart alarm can serve the same purpose but without the adverse effects of using a smartphone. Smart or sunrise alarms help you wake up and sleep more naturally by mimicking the dawn and dusk stimulation. Some innovative alarm clocks will even wake you up with gentle natural-like wake-up sounds, while others have a sleep timer that lulls you to sleep. Some smart alarms will even remind you of activities that you need to do that are part of your bedtime routine. Others have breathing exercises and guided meditation to help you sleep. 7. Smart Mattress to Improve Your Comfort During Sleep Smart mattresses have special software to enhance your comfort while you’re sleeping. For instance, some smart mattresses have sensors that monitor your heart rate, body movement, and temperature as you sleep. The mattress will then use innovative technology and the data from the sensors to tweak its firmness and temperature, leading to a restful night. Conclusion There you have it! Seven ways technology can improve your sleep quality. So, which of the above devices do you use for your sleep? Please share with us in the comments section below.
