Sleep Helpers: The Best Android Apps and Gadgets for Hopeless Insomniacs

If you tuck yourself into bed, then lay staring at the ceiling for an hour, you may be an insomniac. If you fall asleep quickly, but awaken a few minutes later and can’t fall back to sleep, you are definitely suffering from insomnia. In the 21st century, there’s no reason to deal with insomnia alone. In fact, there is an astonishing assortment of sleep tech gadgets and Android apps specially designed with hopeless insomniacs in mind. Here are a few you should know about.

Insomnia defined

Insomnia, or the inability to fall and stay asleep, affects millions of people every night. The jury is out as to precisely how many hours of restful sleep is required by the typical human adult, but seven or eight hours is about right, says Mayo Clinic. Fortunately, a few simple lifestyle habits may improve the condition considerably. But first, let’s take a peek at what insomnia looks like and a few typical causes of the troubling sleep disorder.

According to Mayo Clinic, stress and depression are common causes of insomnia. Travel across timelines and an irregular work schedule are also typical causes of insomnia.  Eating too much before bedtime may also contribute to sleep troubles as can lack of regular bedtimes. Persons who suffer from sleep disorders brought on by stress, worry and depression are more likely to cause accidents at work, at home and while driving.

Sleep tech gadgets and apps for hopeless insomniacs

First, let’s scratch the word hopeless from the above headline. There is indeed hope for people who deal with chronic sleeplessness. Healthline recommends a lightweight app for Android called Sleep Sounds Relax & Sleep. Available at Google Play, this made-for-insomniacs app offers a sweet selection of soft sounds to lull anyone to sleep. Relax Melodies is another soothing sleep inducing app that boasts dozens of restful sounds plus a white noise feature to facilitate sleep.

Waking up doesn’t have to be hard

Waking up after a good night’s sleep is less jarring when you set the right sort of alarm. Few people truly enjoy being awakened by a shrill bell, but almost anyone can wake happily with their favorite music.That’s one feature of the Alarm Clock for Me free smartphone app from Apalon. This productivity boosting app, which also comes with white noise to facilitate sleep, a handy flashlight and a customizable bedside interface, doubles as a weather station to advise of climate conditions. Learn more about Alarm Clock for Me at Google Play.

Uncubed magazine suggests insomniacs utilize an Android app called Sleep Cycle. The app sits on your bedside table and analyzes your deep and light sleep cycles. If you are awakened during a lighter phase of sleep, your chances of starting the day on the proverbial right foot increase exponentially.

If you have a medical condition such as sleep apnea, diabetes, heart disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease, overactive thyroid or asthma, please consult with your physician in addition to trying these gadgets and apps.

Mason Forster couldn’t live without some of the apps he has discovered over the past few years, at least that’s what it feels like! He writes about the ones he uses and recommends.