Personally, the best thing I’ve done for my sleep has been to banish my phone from my bedroom, so it may seem ironic to add smartphone apps to this list. However, Headspace has the opposite effect on sleep than social media. Similar to Hatch Restore, this iOS and Android app includes an extensive library of meditations and exercises to help you relax and fall asleep.
I prefer short, relaxing segments lasting a few minutes that scan my whole body and help me relax. The long “Sleepcast” is approximately 45 minutes long and tells the story in a gentle voice. There are also some Star Wars themed stories that make me want to get up and watch more of The Mandalorian. Sleep music and soundscapes combine ambient sounds with tones and melodies, lasting up to 500 minutes. And perhaps most importantly, there’s a “Nighttime SOS” page that includes guided exercises to help you go back to sleep if you wake up from a bad dream, stress from work, etc.
An annual subscription costs $70, but you can also pay $13 per month. In addition to sleep content, we also offer daytime meditations and sessions that improve breathing, stress management, and focus to help you sleep. If you decide to bring Headspace into your bedroom, make sure your phone’s sleep focus or bedtime mode is turned on before doing so. Otherwise, nightly spam emails and Messenger alerts will undo all the good work your sleep app has just rendered.
