Everyone experiences a night of not enough sleep every once in a while. You’re probably already familiar with the consequences of turning in too late or tossing and turning throughout the night, including the baggy eyes, the irritable mood, and just the general exhaustion during the day. Fortunately, these effects go away once you get another good night’s sleep. But when you are suffering from chronic sleep deprivation, it’s a different story.
Constantly not getting enough sleep increases your risk of chronic diseases, including high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, and diabetes. There is also a chance of becoming obese or developing depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems. On top of that, chronic sleep deprivation can affect your appearance, often leading to pale skin, more wrinkles, swollen or dark eyes, and hanging eyelids, among many others.
With all that in mind, addressing sleep problems is crucial for your health and quality of life. Aside from visiting the doctor, eating a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, and other usual treatments for sleep disorders, here are some technological solutions that can help you fall and stay asleep much better:
1. Temperature control tech
One of the keys to getting a good night of shut-eye is optimum bedroom temperature. However, the temperature that works best for you may not work for others in the house, and if you live alone, constantly adjusting the temperature is not good for your wallet.
Bed temperature control technology aims to solve this problem by adjusting the temperature of the bed instead of the whole room, allowing for immediate comfort underneath your body. Instead of turning on a noisy fan when it’s hot or burying yourself under a suffocating comforter when it’s cold, a temperature control solution will adjust the temperature of the bed itself to help you sleep fall into a deeper, much healthier sleep.
Some tech solutions companies offer innovative jet air remote controls that allow you to adjust the temperature of your bed however you want it without having to leave your comfortable spot, which is especially useful if you suffer from hot flashes or night sweats
2. Noise-canceling headphones
Noise-canceling headphones are a godsend for people who have trouble falling asleep, whether it’s in bed, on a flight, on the train, or basically anywhere else. Although wearing a pair of headphones may need getting used to at first, they provide sounds that are void from distracting outside noises, helping you focus more on relaxing tunes rather than the construction going on outside or the neighbors yelling from the other side of the wall.
Some of the best names that produce noise-canceling headphones include Bose, Sony, Sennheiser Momentum, and JVC, among many others. If you’re looking for more comfort, you can also opt for in-ear earbuds.
3. White noise machine
A white noise machine is a must for people who have trouble falling and staying asleep. This nifty little gadget plays ambient noise or monotonous ‘white noise’ that masks distracting sounds from the surroundings, creating a soothing environment that is more conducive to good sleep. Examples of white noise include a running waterfall, rain, ocean waves, rain forest noises, chirping birds, and so much more.
White noise machines can range from $20 to $100. They are usually compact, but there are smaller models that are ideal for traveling. Some also come with special features like a sleep timer, which automatically shuts off the sounds after a certain amount of time, as well as a built-in alarm to wake you up according to your settings.
4. Meditation apps or podcasts
These apps or podcasts emulate the calming feeling of being read to as a child, which is a common sleep onset association that many people carry into adulthood. With an app or podcast playing audio bedtime stories with a presenter’s soothing voice, it may be easier for you to fall and stay asleep for much longer, even if it has been a long time since you were read a bedtime story.
5. Air purifier
Fresher, cleaner air in the bedroom makes for more fitful and comfortable sleep, so an air purifier is probably a good investment to get rid of your sleep problems. Choose a model that makes little to no noise if you can’t handle ambient sounds in the background while trying to fall asleep. Brands like Dyson, Haier, Coway, and Blueair produce some of the best air purifiers on the market.
Some people need more than just a dark bedroom and a cup of warm milk to fall asleep. If you’re one of this crowd, these cool gadgets may be just what you need to finally enjoy every night of rest.
