Without a doubt, there are still those who glorify the “I’ll sleep when I’m dead” way of life, but as a society, we have finally accepted just how important sleep is.
We are meant to spend a third of our lives sleeping, and the less quality sleep we get, the less productive, healthy, and happy we are.
Luckily, as science has discovered the importance of sleep, and as we have started to embrace its restorative power, the technology we so pride ourselves on has taken several long strides into making us sleep even better and waking up ready to take on the new day.
A basis for sleep
Essentially, the way we sleep has not changed much over the past several decades. There is a bed, and there is a mattress, accompanied by pillows, duvets, blankets, and all the other sleep paraphernalia we like.
However, the surface we sleep on plays one of the most important roles in the quality of our sleep, so investing in something like a memory foam mattress can take your sleep to an entirely new level. Memory foam was first used in mattresses in 1966, and since then, the technology has continually improved, making today’s choices varied and suitable for any kind of sleeper.
Temperature regulation
Something as seemingly unimportant as the temperature of your bedroom can have a significant impact on the way you sleep. And while certain people prefer warmer rooms, the best temperature for a quality night’s sleep is between 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit.
Installing a temperature regulator can help keep your room precisely within this range, automatically adjusting whatever heater you have installed. This will help ensure you get plenty of rest, without having to fiddle with the thermostat in the night.
A ray of light
While blackout curtains have been on the market for generations, they may not be the best solution. True, they can completely darken your room, and you can also set them to open at a specific point in time, but the noise and sudden light intrusion may not be the best way to wake up.
Products such as Dreamlight, a band placed around the sleeper’s head, promise to use both light and color, as well as subtle sounds to ensure the wearer gets a good night’s sleep and is woken up in the best possible manner.
There is also the Genesis Lamp, a 24-hour light bulb that monitors your sleep schedule and provides enough light to wake you up when the time comes. As it is used in NASA’s astronaut program, it clearly has amazing potential.
Sounds of the sleepy
Another factor that has a huge impact on the way we sleep is sound. Whether you prefer absolute silence while you sleep and want to rely on a pair of noise-canceling earbuds, or prefer to have some white noise in the background, there is a product out there made for you.
Sound machines have been popular for quite some time. The modern options feature more modern tech and features such as a huge variety of sound options, sleep monitoring, personalized on and off timers, and so on.
Of course, there are the sleep stories offered by apps such as Calm, which rely on the soothing nature of the human voice and the power of words to help lull you into a peaceful night.
The power of the app
We seem to have developed an app for everything, so it comes as no surprise that there are plenty of sleep apps available at your phone’s store.
There are apps that will offer sleep stories and soothing sounds to help you drift off, and provide gentle sounds to keep you sleeping during the night, followed by a smooth alarm to wake you up in the morning.
There is also Sleep Cycle, which tracks your sleeping patterns and helps you manage them. The app only wakes you up when you are sleeping the lightest, thus ensuring you’re not nudged out of bed from a very deep sleep, which would leave you feeling drained and like you’ve had no sleep at all.
Of course, no app can solve the more serious sleep issues, in which case it’s necessary to visit a sleep specialist.
Final thoughts
One night of poor sleep can cause an entire week of bad moods, decreased productivity, and a lack of creativity. That’s why investing in your sleep should be a top priority for 2020, even if you don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions.