Stress has a way of making itself known when we want to go to sleep. Somehow we can push our stressful thoughts aside most of the day, but the moment we try to clear our heads and go to sleep, BAM – stressful thoughts overwhelm us. There are times when it’s really hard to clear your head and fall asleep. Fortunately, there are ways that help.
Our smartphones are never very far away. They can be useful when it comes to reducing stress and helping us sleep. For iPhone and Android, there are apps that can help us better understand our sleep cycle and help us clear our heads and sleep better. Here are three apps that are worth trying.
Headspace- The tagline of the Headspace app is “Be Kind to your Mind.” This mantra is perfect when stress is trying to rob you of sleep. This app has a variety of benefits, including helping you assess why you might not be sleeping, features for power napping, and mindfulness. The app is free for the basics and costs a monthly fee for advanced features.
Calm- The Calm app is one of the top rated apps for relieving anxiety and stress. This app has a wide variety of meditations ranging from beginner to advanced, and subscribers can choose how long and what type of meditation they prefer. This app also has an option for nature sounds, which are great white noise for stress relief. This app is free and offers some in-app purchases.
Dare- The Dare app is unique because its focus is to help you face your fears and stressors instead of distracting you from them. This unique app helps you overcome your fears by using guided imagery to focus on, while the audio portion helps you comfortably deal with your stress. This can help you overcome stress and move on, which can lead to better sleep and less recurring anxiety. This app is free, though in-app purchases are possible.
Using your smartphone to manage stress and get a better night’s sleep makes sense. Having resources available to help you relax and let go of worries is an asset at bedtime. Try different apps to see which ones meet your needs. Be willing to switch and try new apps if one feels too familiar – the variety will help. Be willing to invest in the small fees for upgrades to unlock the bigger and better features.
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