How to sleep better with a smart home

Insomnia is an amazing epidemic. About 60 million Americans suffer from insomnia—although 50 percent often have symptoms—and its effects are widespread. Insomnia has been linked to depression, overdoses and traffic accidents.

While there is no cure for this condition, a smart device can help you sleep more every night. You can sleep better by making a few simple changes to your home.

White noise generators

Hearing is different from hearing. That’s why you can get used to traffic noise, but the barking of a dog keeps you on high alert. You can «disconnect» from one, but be disturbed by another. Seth Horowitz writes in The Universal Sense: How Hearing Shapes the Mind:

“There is no such thing as silence. We are constantly immersed in sound and vibration, and we are affected… And the reasons why constant sounds don’t drive us crazy are the same reasons we get distracted by radio broadcasts and can’t read when the TV is on: we are well choosing what we hear.

This is where white noise comes in. This is a constant frequency that acts as background noise. Your brain is used to it and mixes other sounds with the tone you are already used to.

SNOOZ White Noise Machine

The SNOOZ White Noise Sound Machine is a fan rig, but don’t worry, you can still use it in winter as it doesn’t generate cold air. Its timer and variable tones let you customize SNOOZ for adults, kids, and pets. Control it remotely through the included app.

This includes a timer and «Children’s Calibration» perfect for protecting children and toddlers from excessive noise.

It looks like an Echo Dot or Google Nest Mini, so it’s light and compact. Once you get used to white noise, you can take it with you wherever you go.

Every moment matters white noise machine

The White Noise Machine of every moment count produces white noise, but is also a natural sound generator. This is ideal if you are not interested in listening to something that sounds artificial.

This device can generate 38 sounds, including birdsong, train on train, pink noise (deeper resonance than white noise), waves, clocks and lullabies. Some, like a heartbeat or a dog barking, are unnecessary or disturbing. The dripping water function can force you to use the toilet. But it nonetheless offers an amazing range and personalization.

breathing apparatus

Have you ever heard anyone say that you will get a good night’s sleep after a long walk in the countryside? Natalia Dautovich, PhD, National Sleep Foundation, explains:

“Exercise certainly helps, but fresh air is an important factor. Cooler temperatures can lead to fatigue, and fresh air simulates a cooler environment… [T] there are many positive associations here between fresh air and relaxation, and when we feel relaxed and comfortable in our environment, we are more likely to feel sleepy.”

You can also fall prey to allergies, especially if you suffer from stuffiness during the night. Your breathing can be affected by dust particles, pollen, and mold, which can prevent you from relaxing in the evening.

Large room air purifier AeraMax 300

The AeraMax 300 Large Room Air Purifier uses a High Efficiency Particulate Filter (HEPA) to remove allergens, dust mites and mold spores.

It also comes with a heavy duty to filter germs in flu seasons and pollen in the spring. This makes it ideal for those with breathing problems, as confirmed by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.

LONOVE Dehumidifier

The small LONOVE dehumidifier is great for small bedrooms, bathrooms or basements.

By keeping the air humidity below 50 percent, it reduces the chance of mold, creating a healthier sleeping environment.

Yes, it’s tiny, but that makes it easy to carry and quiet. Unlike some dehumidifiers, it emits less than 30 dB, so it can be used in children’s bedrooms. You can even put one in your wardrobe and it will gradually eliminate the musty smell and slowly dry your clothes.

Temperature control

You already know that it’s hard to sleep if it’s too hot or too cold. Bill Bryson in The Body: A Handbook for Occupiers writes:

“Despite the fact that our body temperature changes slightly during the day (it is lowest in the morning, highest in the late afternoon or evening), it remains within a clearly narrow compass of 36 to 38 degrees Celsius. To avoid disaster, the brain has its own reliable control center, the hypothalamus, which tells the body to cool down by sweating, or warm itself up by shivering and diverting blood flow away from the skin and into more vulnerable organs.”

Our body temperature reacts to the environment. Aim for your bedroom to be between 16 and 18 degrees Celsius (that’s 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit).

Google Nest Thermostat

This is one of the most famous smart home devices. Google Nest Thermostat is a self-learning module that creates a heating schedule based on what temperature you like and when you are usually at home.

Nest’s main selling point is savings on energy bills. But it can also help you sleep by automatically adjusting the room temperature. Of course, you can also change settings remotely through the Nest app.

SwitchBot Hub Plus

The SwitchBot Hub Plus isn’t just for temperature control — pair it with any smart home appliance. This means you can use the SwitchBot app to control your lights, turn your TV on and off, and control your air conditioner.

Plan your schedule with programs like IFTTT, and then decide which devices to automate at different times of the year. This means you can cool off the bedroom in the summer while you watch a drunken Netflix in the living room.

Plus the glowing cloud design looks fantastic.

Smart home lighting and switches

Our bodies react to light. You get tired when the dark evenings come; you wake up earlier than usual when the sun shines through your blinds. This is the part of your internal clock known as the circadian rhythm, also controlled by the hypothalamus, but affected by light. Sleep advice says: