A third of our lives are spent in bed, and yet many people aren’t feeling well-rested every day. How much sleep should we get each night, and how do we measure how restful it is? Find out by using Sleepbot, a free app that focuses on monitoring how much sleep you are getting and waking you up at the right time.
Sleepbot is available for iOS and Android devices. It is a sleep cycle tracker that records your quality of sleep and utilizes a smart alarm. It was actually created by some college students who wanted to track the lack of sleep they were getting as they crammed for tests during final exam week. Although this started out as a side project, it turned into a really useful app.
How it works
Sleepbot is able to tell users what has been waking them up at night. Believe it or not, the app can identify the sound of a squeaking mouse (and one user actually uncovered a pest problem in their house!). Every morning, you will receive a detailed history of your sleep efficiency, which will be presented using stats and graphs. With its motion sensor ability, the app can tell you when you fall asleep, how many times you wake up, and whether or not you had any disturbances throughout the night. There is a journal section as well which can be used to log your dreams and jot down how rested you feel in the morning.
Sleepbot’s setup is very simple, and the app is easy to navigate. After you have launched the app, choose to activate any or all of the three options: Smart Alarm, Track Motion and Record Sound. Then, just plug your phone into your charger, place it next to your pillow, and fall asleep.
The Smart Alarm has a mind of its own as it tracks when you are in REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, which is when you get the most rest, and Non-REM sleep, which is a lighter sleep where you may toss and turn. Because of this tracking, the alarm will wake you up while in the ideal Non-REM period up to 30 minutes before the time you set the alarm to wake you up. The Track Motion feature tracks the quality of your sleep by the movements you make throughout the night and then creates graphs and statistics for you to export and view. And the Record Sound feature is what separates Sleepbot from most other sleep apps. It utilizes the microphone on your phone to record noises throughout the night, such as snoring, rustling sheets, ceiling fans, etc.
Pros: The amount of information this app provides is well worth the download, especially because it is free. The graphs are easy to understand and helpful in showing you which areas may need improvement.
Cons: Although you can choose a wake-up song from the app library or your own library, there is not an option for the phone to vibrate to wake you up.
Overall consensus: After giving Sleepbot some time to collect data, it can give you a wealth of knowledge regarding your sleep patterns. It will inform you how many hours you should be sleeping and when is the best time to wake up. If you’re questioning your sleep quality, this app is a great way to satisfy your curiosity and start improving your sleep.
For Health Advocate Members
If you’re a Health Advocate member with access to the Wellness Coaching program, reach out to your Wellness Coach for more recommendations on other helpful apps and resources.
