The Complete Guide To… Sleep Tech

Want to sleep longer or better, but don’t know how to achieve it? We look at the latest smart sleep aids trying to help you bridge the dreamland gap

- Claire Davies

Sleeping consistently well is one of the most nourishing things we can do for our physical and mental health, yet many of us experience regular sleep issues such as snoring, insomnia (the inability to sleep) and frequent waking that prevent us from enjoying great sleep.

According to a 2017 report released by The Sleep Council, an advisory organisation dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of good sleep, more than a third of us have been living with sleep problems for over five years. The report found that the top three things keeping people awake at night are: worry or stress (45%), partner disturbance (25%) and noise (20%). One in 10 respondents also blamed having an uncomfortable bed and mattress for their sleep woes.

Sleep Health America reports that 50-70 million Americans are now affected by sleep issues, while in its Sleep Matters report the Mental Health Organisation estimated (from a survey of 6,700 people) that nearly a third of the UK has insomnia.

Why is good sleep so vital? It maintains our wellbeing and plays just as crucial a role in our physical and mental health as hydration, good diet and regular exercise do. Sleep helps repair our brains as well as our bodies – we undergo various maintenance processes that help us function better when we’re awake. The NHS advises that adults aged 19-65 need seven to nine hours of sleep a night to feel at their best.

“Regular poor sleep,” says the NHS, “puts you at risk of serious medical conditions, including obesity, heart disease and diabetes – and it shortens your life expectancy.” Happily, there’s plenty we can do to boost the quality of our slumber. Tech is trying to help too, which is why we’re seeing a rise in the number of sleep gadgets.

A helping hand