I don’t play around when it comes to sleep-- it's my love language and determines my mood for the next day based on how many hours and the quality of my sleep. Professional napper over here. I mean, we all spend a third of our lives sleeping, so obviously it's important. I heavily use and rely on sleep tech to ensure a good night's sleep. If you find yourself struggling to wake up each morning or staring up at the ceiling, tossing and turning each night, this next part is for you. Happy snoozing!

Sleep tech has lots of options, but it doesn’t all address the same issues. If you want to get the most out of your sleep tech, it will depend on what you want to improve. Do you get your full eight hours? Trouble falling asleep? Is your main concern how sleep impacts your exercise performance and readiness? Or are you hoping to track your snoring partner? Maybe you want to know how good your sleep was?  Before you pull out your wallet, you should know how a gadget will help you achieve your specific sleep goals.

I've compiled these recommendations based on how well a sleep gadget addresses the problems it’s trying to fix. We also considered comfort, accuracy, battery life, and whether it provides good context for its data.  

WAKING UP

The downside of sleep? Having to actually get up. If you’re tired of waking up with the jolt of a conventional alarm, you might try a wake-up light. The Loftie lamp is a bedside lamp mimics the sun by easing your body awake each morning. Based on your set wake-up time, a soft light ascends the base of the lamp, simulating dawn — a far cry from the blaring noise of most alarms. At the end of the day, you can wind down and disconnect with the receding sunset on the lamp’s base.

More than just a sunrise lamp, this upgrade offers a bevy of research-based features and a sleek look that suits any bedroom. Who knew correct lighting is critical for healthy sleep because of its effect on melatonin production.

Loftie Lamp ($275)
https://amzn.to/3xCPEwi

TRACKING YOUR SLEEP

The OURA ring a sleep tracker that also tracks some fitness metrics. The ring has seven temperature sensors, a green LED sensor for measuring heart rate, and red and infrared LEDs to measure blood oxygen. That’s not including the battery or accelerometers.

All these sensors provide a holistic look at your recovery. Each morning, you’re given a report on your readiness, sleep quality, and activity goals for the day. These reports tell you how your sleep impacts your daily ability to take on stress, and whether you should take it easy or challenge yourself. The app also includes wellness features like guided meditations and white noise to help you fall asleep.

Oura ring ($299)
https://ouraring.com/discount/b6bfae07c4

If you don’t want to wear any gadgets to bed, the  Withings Sleep tracking mat is a good, affordable option. It’s a long, rectangular mat with sensors and a fabric covering that you slip under your mattress. In addition to your heart rate and sleep cycles, it also tracks snoring and breathing disturbances. It’s also not battery-operated, so you don’t have to worry about charging the device every day.

Within the Withings app, you can generate an automatic, comprehensive sleep diary that helps break down important trends and visualize your metrics. That report can then be exported as a PDF that you share with your doctor.

Withings Sleep ($129)
https://amzn.to/3xC9xnm

FALLING ASLEEP

Morphee is a sound machine that is completely un-connected, with no screen, no blue light and no sound waves – enabling users to reduce their tech exposure in the bedroom, and maximize their rest and relaxation throughout the day, or night. Using built in meditation sessions, Morphee prepares users for a great night’s sleep. It's for anyone struggling to relax or sleep, or anyone who is looking to ‘get away’ from tech for a while.

Morphee ($99)
https://amzn.to/3SaHGUF