Latest news with #sleepapp
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
4 tips to get a better night's sleep during sweltering summer temperatures
Sleeping during the hot summer months can be a struggle for some. It's necessary for the body to cool down for optimal rest — so what's the best way to harness a good night's sleep during periods of extreme heat? Dr. Michael Gradisar, head of sleep science at the sleep app Sleep Cycle in Australia, shared some tips with Fox News Digital. Mouth Taping Touted By Some For Better Sleep As Experts Cite Safety Concerns The body naturally releases heat from the hands, feet and face when preparing for sleep, according to the expert. When the environment is too warm, the body cannot shed heat effectively, making it more difficult to fall and stay asleep. Read On The Fox News App "Overheating during the night also disrupts sleep, in the form of more frequent awakenings, night sweats and/or reduced sleep quality," Gradisar said. "And for those already prone to rumination or insomnia, high nighttime temperatures act as an added stressor, making it even more likely they'll wake up and struggle to drift off again." This can result in fragmented sleep and groggy mornings, he warned. Couples Who Cuddle Before Sleep Reap Key Health Benefits, Study Reveals To increase sleep quality despite the heat, Gradisar offered the following guidance. To keep the room well-regulated for sleep, Gradisar suggested opening the windows early in the evening to let in cooler air and closing them before bedtime to reduce noise. "Keep your bedroom cool, dark and quiet," he advised. Using a fan or air conditioning to circulate air will also support heat transfer from your body and help prevent night sweats, according to Gradisar. While drinking water is great for internal hydration on hot nights, Gradisar also suggested taking a cool shower or bath — or going for an evening swim — before bed. Immersing yourself in cool water will help lower the body's core temperature, he said. If your bedding gets too warm, the expert suggested removing your blanket for 30 to 60 seconds, then re-covering once cooled. When sleeping with a partner, sharing the same duvet or blanket means also sharing each other's body heat. Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter Gradisar recommended considering the Scandinavian sleep method, in which a couple uses separate duvets to avoid sharing too much heat. The expert also urged caution when using cooling blankets, as the "scientific evidence of their effectiveness is small." Wearing breathable pajamas and using natural, "heat-wicking" bedding will help keep you cooler, he said. Drinking even moderate amounts of alcohol before bed increases the likelihood of waking up during the night, according to Gradisar. For more Health articles, visit Alcohol intake also speeds up the heart rate and widens blood vessels, bringing an initial warmth to the skin, and impairs the body's ability to regulate temperature, research has article source: 4 tips to get a better night's sleep during sweltering summer temperatures
The Guardian
09-06-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
The one change that worked: meditation cured my insomnia – and transformed my relationships
In the run-up to Christmas 2018, wobbly with delirium on a station platform packed with partygoers, I nearly fell under a train. Insomnia – not the 'I woke at 3am for a bit' type, but the brutalising 'I might have dropped off for a fretful 45 minutes at around 6am' kind – will do that to a person. I have rarely slept well. But this particular stretch of insomnia was, almost literally, a killer. I'd tried every snake oil on the market. A Harley Street hypnotist gave up on me after two sessions. Prescription sleeping pills stopped working. As a last resort, I tried the eight-week NHS cognitive behavioural therapy course for insomnia. It involved a tedious sleep diary, increasing 'sleep pressure' by forcing myself to stay up until 2am and strengthening the 'bed-sleep connection' by sacrificing my bedtime read. Far from helping, these strategies ramped up my frustration. Then I found one thing that did work – something I had dismissed as the preserve of man buns and pseudo-spiritualists: meditation. With help from an app, I started turning my maddening night-time thought loops into innocuous clouds that passed through the sky of my mind. I discovered that mentally scanning my body from head to toe while focusing on each part without judgment could ease my ever-present tension. And by noticing how thoughts vanish as quickly as they appear, I came to realise this crippling phase would eventually pass. With my cynicism on hold, I started following the standard advice of meditating during the day, rather than reaching for it as an emergency sleep aid. Nothing hardcore. A simple 10-minute bolt-on after brushing my teeth. Over time, I started dreading bedtime less, found it easier to drop off and stay asleep longer. Sometimes for as long as six hours. Horror for some. Bliss for me. So the sleep diaries got binned, but the meditation did not. By regularly stilling my mind, I was able to step back and appraise problems from a distance. 'Respond, not react', to use the correct meditation parlance. In fact, I was able to look at my entire life from a distance. This clarity helped me see that my marriage was beyond repair. Divorce soon followed, a stressful but ultimately positive process made more manageable by daily meditation. Then came the lion's den of dating. I honestly don't know how I would have survived dating apps without meditation apps. They helped me stay grounded, observing the chaotic thrills and rejections with detached awareness. Best of all, meditation has made me a better parent. With patience not being one of my virtues, I had a habit of snapping at my child. Throw my menopause and their teendom into the mix, and you get something more explosive than fireworks on New Year's Eve. But meditation helps defuse things. If I let the habit slip, the tetchiness – and insomnia – creep back in. Meditation has not only calmed my mind, but also expanded it, making me more open to the things I once dismissed: vulnerability, therapy and perhaps even spiritualism. It's been such a salve that I'm (almost) grateful to my sleepless nights for forcing it on me.
CNET
13-05-2025
- CNET
Get My Favorite Hatch Alarm Clock for $30 Off With This Memorial Day Deal
Getting up in the morning isn't always something we want to do, but it gets easier the more you optimize your sleep. If that's your aim, now is a great time to ditch our old wake-up setup and upgrade to one of the best alarm clocks I've used: the Hatch Restore 3. Morning and night routines are so much easier with the right alarm clock, and I only wish that I hadn't waited so long to pick one up. You can grab the Hatch Restore 3 alarm clock now for just $140, a $30 savings. Why not let this Memorial Day deal help improve your sleep routine and set the tone for each day? Act fast, though, since these kinds of deals don't tend to stay around for long. The Hatch Restore 3 is far from the basic alarm apps on your phone. It's a small oasis of tranquility. It gently wakes you up with a simulated sunrise and soothing sounds. This device is a sound machine, a sunrise alarm clock and a nighttime routine saver all in one. Since I started using the Hatch Restore 3, my room has been phone-free at night, and boy, have I noticed a difference in my energy levels when I wake up. Read more: Best Sunrise Alarm Clocks How I use the Hatch Restore 3 Hatch/CNET Using this sunrise alarm clock is very straightforward. You connect your device to the Hatch Sleep app. From there, choose when to wake up with your preferred sound and light setting. You can choose from 13 different alarm sounds, ranging from meditative flutes to morning birds to ocean shores, and four different light hue settings, from dark pink to bright orange and yellow. You can also create a custom sunrise light. The Hatch Restore 3 now comes at even greater value, with its original price reduced from $170 to $140 when you buy the alarm clock directly from Hatch. Whether you're seeking to enhance your morning wake-up routine or looking for a great gift for a loved one, this alarm clock is a worthwhile investment in quality sleep. Read more: The Ideal Environment for the Best Sleep Ever
