For many, counting sheep can feel like chasing greased-up lambs. An estimated 30 percent of Americans experience short-term insomnia, while 10 percent suffer long-term insomnia. But now, artificial intelligence and smart wearables may offer relief, providing insights into your sleeping patterns and offering suggestions for an effective sleep routine.
Wearables like the AI-powered Whoop can collect biometric data and analyze your sleeping pattern and progression through the four stages of sleep. Sleepers start awake (stage 1) and then fall into light sleep (stage 2). During deep sleep (stage 3), your body and brain slow down and start to "recover." Then during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, the brain becomes active, processing new information and recovering while the body remains at rest.
In order to get a restful night of sleep, you need plenty of deep and REM sleep. Light sleep isn't enough. But even those who sleep for eight or so hours often aren't getting enough REM and deep sleep. Some folks also wake up frequently, although they may not remember it. Wearables like Whoop let you analyze your progression through sleep cycles in detail.
So how can you enjoy more restful night's sleep? Many physicians recommend that you set a consistent bedtime and dim the lights in your bedroom before even trying to sleep. You should turn off your electronic devices and engage in a calming activity, like reading.
Reading a book — not a tablet — may decrease sleep latency, meaning you'll fall asleep more quickly once you put your head to the pillow. Light from screens, even if you use blue light, may make it more difficult to fall asleep.
