As a steady daily schedule is a key component for a steady sleep schedule, the COVID-19 pandemic and the accompanying “new normal” have caused a large portion of Americans (most of whom already didn’t get enough sleep) to struggle to fall asleep at night. As annoying as things like traffic and talking to your coworkers can be, they are also both naturally exhausting, making it easy to doze off at the end of the day. 

This article won’t be recommending that you go sit in traffic for no reason, but it is a list of a5 gadgets developed from sleep data that will help your mind and body find solace, and ultimately sleep well throughout the night. 

Make Some Noise!

Though pumping crowd noise into your bedroom like sports teams are doing into their empty stadiums probably won’t work for most people trying to improve their sleep, white noise is repeatedly proven to do just that. White noise creates a steady, soothing flow of noise that will drown out cars, animals, neighbors, kids, etc. They range pretty drastically in price, but a decent one can be purchased for about $30. 

Therapeutic Alarm Clock

The phrase “therapeutic alarm clock” may seem like an oxymoron, as alarm clocks have been getting smashed to pieces in movies since the dawning of alarm clocks and movies, but when incorporated with lighting, alarm clocks can actually help you get a better night’s sleep, and allow you to wake up more energized. At night, the lights of the clock slowly dim as you drift to sleep, and in the morning they do the opposite, resembling a slow sunrise in your bedroom. Many also offer options for waking up to bird noises or the sound of waves. 

Sleep Tracking Pads

Finding ways to measure your health data at home can be a much cheaper alternative than participating in a sleep study to help determine your reasons for failed rest. Sleep tracking pads lie under you at night, and send a plethora of data points to your smartphone to determine things like breathing patterns, heart rate, and even snoring. Trying different pre-bedtime activities or exercises and measuring data from your sleep pad against each of those activities allows users to see what habits are allowing them to fall into the deepest and longest sleep cycles. 

Guided Meditations 

With plenty of free options available on streaming services like YouTube and Spotify, guided meditations aim to free the mind before bedtime. There are plenty specific to sleep, and all you need is a nice speaker and a way to be alone before bed. If you live with a partner, headphones may suffice but can add their own difficulties in trying to sleep. Meditations bring with them the white noise aspects, so this may serve as a nice trial run before deciding to purchase a white noise machine, as well. 

Smart Sleep Mask

Similar to a pad, but more based on the neurology that occurs in your brain during sleep, smart sleep masks are able to measure brainwaves, pulse, temperature and much more while you’re sleeping. Though not a particularly curative product, the information provided by the sleep masks can help you figure out why you are having trouble sleeping, so you can choose the gadgets to help you fix those habits, accordingly!

Big Data/Small Data

Most of these gadgets, and other offerings that are similar, aim to tell you what your vitals are, but it’s ultimately up to you to determine how to use the information provided. Big data in the sleep world is abundant, and it doesn’t take long to come up with a few hypotheses as to why you’re not sleeping well. With these in mind, you can narrow your own list of possibilities and shop accordingly for gadgets to help you slumber.