Sleep is essential. It is important to know that sleep is essential. It is a common condition. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASSM), 35 percent of Americans have occasional symptoms of sleeplessness. Twenty percent of those who have experienced a short-term disorder (less then three months) and 10 percent suffer from chronic insomnia.Our sleeplessness may have been exacerbated by our constant connections to work and other social life, but the pandemic is kicking it into high gear. According to Uswitch research, searches for sleep apps have increased by 104 percent in the past year. I am one of those people who have trouble sleeping. I find it takes me at least an hour to fall asleep, and lately I have been waking up multiple times per night without any clear reason. It is a common reason that sleep deprivation is used as a way to make life more difficult.In desperate need of sleep, I tried several apps and gadgets promising to relieve insomnia. To compare the results, I used the Withings Tracking Mat. The mat is placed under your mattress. It tracks your sleep cycles and heart rate throughout the night and gives you an overall score. To get an additional opinion on the science behind each product, I also sought out Michael Breus (a sleep therapist and clinical psychologist), to help me.We may be compensated if you make a purchase using the links in our stories. This supports our journalism. Find out more.Bose Sleepbuds Photograph: BoseAre you a light sleeper? The Bose Sleepbuds II may be a good option if you are a light sleeper. These tiny earbuds are small enough to fit comfortably in your ears. They block out external noise while creating soothing soundscapes. To ensure a perfect fit, they have rubber ear tips available in three sizes. Mine stayed in all night.The app allows you to select sounds from your phone. You can choose from a variety of sounds, including sounds like static and ocean swell, as well as some more melodic options. However, you can only have around 10 sounds per earbud. You will need to plan ahead as each one takes around 20 minutes to upload via Bluetooth LE. Boses' library of sounds is limited and you can only stream or upload your music. The buds come with a sleek charging case that can be used magnetically.The Sleepbuds II were very relaxing for me. They also mask noise well. They are passive noise cancelling, not active. This means they don't completely block out all sound. They would be great if there were a lot outside noise or long-haul flights. However, I'm a side sleeper and it is uncomfortable to have anything in my ears all night. They made it difficult for me to fall asleep, and occasionally woke me up when I changed positions. However, they made it difficult for me to fall asleep and woke me up when I shifted positions.Breus said that I love these. They have an alarm you can use while still waking your partner. I have a TV in my bedroom, but my wife is not able to sleep with it on.Calm app Photograph: CalmCalm (iOS and Android) has been downloaded more than 100,000,000 times. Calm was originally designed for meditation and mindfulness. It offers a variety of guided meditations, breathing exercises, and other tools to help you reduce stress. Calm now also supports sleep.
