Alaska Sleep Education Center

5 Great Apps to Gain Better Sleep Habits

The latest expression to be thrown around to describe a poor nights rest is junk sleep It was coined by a British organization called The Sleep Council which describes it as sleep that is neither long enough nor of good enough quality to restore the body and brain for the day to come
Sleep hygiene is a concept that refers to the habits behaviors and environmental factors that affect the quality of sleep It was developed as a way to help insomniacs and others suffering from poor sleep cycles it helps people to evaluate such things as
Imbibing alcohol in the evening
Drinking coffee late in the day
Excessive napping or sedentary lifestyle
Screen time before bed
People have been dealing with sleep issues since the first catnap was taken and there has been a lot of wisdom passed down aimed at helping Today in the new information technology revolution much of that wisdom along with some fabulous technology has been put into apps designed to help people sleep better Take a look at how these apps are promoting healthy sleep habits 
Twilight
If reading about low code doesnt help induce sleep perhaps Twilight can This handy app addresses an issue that many people encounter when they have trouble disconnecting before they close their eyes It reduces exposure to blue light which is the light that is emitted from computers and other devices This light can suppress the bodys production of the sleep inducing hormone melatonin Twilight shifts from the blue light to a softer red light thats easier on the eyes and wont interfere with melatonin Free Google Play 
Sleep Cycle
This app taps into the physiology of your sleep in a way that other apps do not and it is aimed at helping you to emerge from your sleep at the most fortuitous moment It does this by analyzing some of the important metrics of your sleep during a given cycle and then helping you to wake up during a light sleep phase so that waking up feels gentle and easy Free or $30year for an optimal premium subscription iOS and Google Play 
Noisli
This app provides users with a gentle auditory experience that can help them drift into sleep so its perfect for anybody who likes falling asleep to sounds or music Noisli allows users to create a signature soundscape by mixing and matching different sounds such as cafe noise wind rain and fire It also features premade playlists so that you dont have to fiddle with it if you dont want to Noisli costs $2 to download then free or $10 per month for an optional premium subscription iOS and Google Play
Calm
Calm is another sleep aid that offers people gentle auditory experiences that help facilitate tranquility in the brain It features guided meditations nature sounds and music as well as sleep stories that aim to reflect the classic tones and rhythms of bedtime stories As a bonus loads of these stories are read by celebrities like Matthew McConaughey Harry Styles and Laura Dern Calm costs $70year for iOS and Google Play
Sleeptown
This app puts the fun in functional sleep It makes a game out of generating good sleep habits For every sleep oriented goal that is set and achieved such as waking up by a certain hour you add a bit of construction to the town that youre creating in the app For every goal you miss though one of your buildings gets destroyed $2 iOS and Google Play
Sleep hygiene needs to be promoted so that junk sleep can be avoided Today there are loads of apps designed to help accentuate good sleep hygiene in many creative and intelligent ways Taking the time and effort to generate good sleep hygiene and tapping into the potential of some of these apps could be a serious difference maker for your slumber
What Is Sleep Hygiene
What is sleep hygiene?
Overview
This involves following certain daily routines and creating a bedroom environment that can help you get better sleep more often There are various steps you can take to achieve this goal They include following a pre bedtime routine creating a comfy bedroom environment and even following certain daytime habits
Keep in mind that theres no one size fits all approach to sleep hygiene Its important to customize it so it suits your particular needs It can help you to fall asleep faster and wake up fully recharged like a smartphone battery
 
The Importance of Sleep Hygiene
Studies show that using good sleep hygiene habits is important for good health according to the National Institutes of Health NIH Sleepers can experience benefits such as positive reinforcement and making a healthy lifestyle more automatic Meanwhile bad habits can have the opposite effect and trigger negative results
 
Bad Sleep Hygiene
There are several signs that youre experiencing bad sleep hygiene 
● Many sleep disturbances
● Difficulty falling asleep
● Daytime sleepiness
● Lack of consistent sleep quality
These are some of the various signs that you should make tweaks to improve sleep hygiene If youre experiencing one or more of them then you should definitely consider tweaking your sleep environment andor schedule
 
Summary
If youre tossing and turning at night instead of getting a good nights sleep then you should consider some sleep resources They can help you get into a sleep schedule create a sleep friendly environment and even follow a daytime schedule for better nighttime slumber
If you believe you have difficulty sleeping due to physical aches and pains or have PTSD or other similar mental health conditions it is best to personally consult a medical or psychological health professional This article will only provide general information and should not be used for self diagnosis and self treatment
Alaska Sleep Clinic is the most comprehensive sleep center in Alaska and has one of the most visited sleep education websites in the World  Subscribe to our blogs and check out our CBT link to better sleep called Somnus Therapy 
                                  Improve Your Sleep  Improve Your Life
author avatar
Jennifer Hines
Subscribe to our Blog
Alaska Sleep Education Center Email Subscription*
Alaska Sleep Clinic's Blog

Our weekly updated blog aims to provide you with answers and information to all of your sleeping questions.

Brent Fisher, MBA, FACHE, FACMPE
President and Chief Executive Officer

“Alaska Sleep Clinic has a history of providing the most comprehensive sleep medicine services in the state of Alaska. Its potential has only begun. I am here to take these high-quality, comprehensive services to all Alaskans.”

Experience

Brent Fisher has held leadership positions spanning a wide variety of complex and start-up organizations: manufacturing (pharmaceutical & medical device), software development, hospitals (academic and community), medical groups, consulting, hospice, military, engineered devices, engineered plastics, and private equity.

Publications and Organizations

His writings have been published in various magazines, trade journals, and medical journals, including the Physician Executive Journal, Healthcare Executive, Modern Healthcare, Group Practice Journal, New England Journal of Medicine, and Journal of Healthcare Management (Best Article Award).

He has served on the Board of Directors of professional associations, civic organizations, and businesses.

Hobbies and Activities

Brent enjoys being with his family, serving in the community, hiking, camping, fishing, and hunting.