Periods of daylight are getting shorter, fall is in full swing, and the holidays are just around the corner. I smell stress on the horizon. One thing the winter is good for, sleep. To make the most of your winter hibernations, check out these free iPhone apps for maximizing sleep and relaxation.
I love falling asleep to the sound of ocean waves after a long day at the office. The free iDreams app will have you sawing logs faster than normal when you plug into the free sounds of the ocean surf, river, waterfall and more. Additional sounds such as thunderstorm are available for an in-app purchase of 99 cents. App allows you to set a fade time so you won’t waste battery power playing ocean sounds the entire night.
Are you a soldier, starfish or freefaller? To find out, check out the free Sleep Personality Test app to find out exactly what your preferred sleeping position says about you. I’m a starfish, which apparently makes me a good listener who likes to offer help when needed. Maybe if you change your sleep position, you can change your outlook on life.
Sleeping partner’s snoring keeping you up at night? If you’re looking for a way to monitor his or her snoring to entice them to finally visit a doctor for resolution, test out the free Owl app, which checks snoring levels to estimate the quality of sleep. Maybe that person’s snoring doesn’t bother him or her now, but if you can prove quality of sleep is affected, hopefully a visit to the doctor will fix the problem.
If your mind is racing and you’re having trouble hitting the hay, take a few moments to relax your breathing with the free ECNA-Breath app. Simply synchronize your breathing by adjusting the size of the ball on screen three times with deep breaths. The app charts your progress over time.
Never before has a nightlight been as chic for adults as with the creation of the iPhone. When I’m alone, and think I hear bumps in the night, I love falling asleep to the soft glow of the Ganesh Night Light app, which features the Hindu deity honored as the Remover of Obstacles. Set the timer duration so the app automatically shuts down once you are fast asleep.
Enlightened folks always mutter mottos like “stop and smell the roses” and “appreciate the small things in life.” The goal of the free iSatori app (Satori is the term for enlightenment in Japanese) is to get you to do just that. Each day for a month, the app displays a new flower. The goal is to experience the flower in all its digital glory without judging it, in order to reach a deep sense of peace, and feel the calm of said peace, wash over you.
If you have more than a few minutes each day to devote to enlightenment, download the free Silva Meditations app. The app offers three meditational exercises, including good morning, good night and energy booster meditation. Meditation is a relaxation tool you can use almost anywhere, especially with free guided practices on your iPhone.
