Whether it’s Instagram notification anxiety, digital hyper-stimulation, box-set binging or brain-bamboozling blue light from our devices, we’re constantly hearing how technology is having a negative impact on our sleep.

But as always the truth about the relationship between technology and sleep is much more, well, balanced, and there are plenty of brilliant minds out there figuring out how to use cutting edge technology to help us all sleep more soundly.

IF YOU DON’T SNOOZE, YOU LOSE

Sleep is a great leveler. It doesn’t matter how fabulously fit, focused or famous you are, we all have to spend half our lives flat on our backs in a infant-like state of unconscious, dribbling, semi-naked vulnerability. But we love it, we need it, we crave it, and we value it.  And the more that scientists try to understand why this is, the more they realise just how important sleep is to so many aspects of our physical and mental health.

• Lack of sleep has been proven to have a significant negative impact on your brain function, including creativity, memory and general mental health.
• A major body of research is building up about the damaging effect sleeplessness can have on your skin. 
• Good sleep has also been linked to better sporting ability, educational attainment, productivity, longevity and maintaining a healthy weight.

SLEEP IS A SERIOUS BUSINESS

It’s little wonder that we’re all prepared to spend serious money on anything that will help us sleep better, it’s worth every penny.  Even big businesses are beginning to recognise the economic benefits of having a better rested work force and are investing in sleep themed rewards and incentives, office snooze-pods and duvet days. The might McKinsey have even published a whitepaper on the organisational cost of insufficient sleep.

And so it follows that many of the savviest socially-minded entrepreneurs, technologists and inventors are investing energy, capital and brainpower trying to come up with the next major breakthroughs that will help us all sleep better. Let’s just hope they are not losing too much sleep over it.

4 INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS TO HELP YOU SLEEP BETTER

1. Lumie Bodyclock Luxe 750D

Lumie are right at the forefront of sleep tech. They have been researching human bio-rhythms, our carcadian clocks, light responses and waking modes for years to create products that help us get our best sleep patterns and habits into sync with our hectic, unpredictable modern lifestyles. Their flagship piece of kit is this top end version of their Bodyclock. It emits non-alerting low-blue light for your pre-sleep read (or whatever else you get up to before nodding off) and can send you of to sleep and wake you up at the optimal time with a scientifically researched set of 20 soothing and stimulating sounds or DAB radio. (RRP £199)

2. The Simba Hybrid Mattress

Simba have been combining sleep research, materials science and craftsmanship since the late 70s to continually innovate in beds, pillows, duvets and more. But it is their seriously state-of-the art mattresses that rock our world. The Hybrid range has 7 layers, with a unique combination of up to 2,500 conical pocket springs, responsive Visco memory foam that moulds to your body shape and a patented hypoallergenic air flow sleep surface to provide freshness and temperature control. (Super Kingsize is £799).

3. Podtime Sleep Pod 

Podtime Sleep Pods are British-made power nap capsules designed for offices, airports, hospitals and other places where sleep is often much needed but in short supply. Their standard side-entry, stackable Sleep Pod features finger-touch door opening, noise reduction, soft LED lighting, ventilation (phew) and a host of optional tech extras. Not for the claustrophobic, ideal for hipster vampires. (£2,895 + VAT)

4. Pukka Nighttime 7 Day Kit

Sometimes we have to look back to see the way forward. Valerian root has been used for centuries in many rural cultures to promote peaceful sleep and soothe away anxiety but somewhere along the line us busy urban types lost touch with this knowledge. But now, thanks to herbal evangelists like Pukka’s Sebastian Pole, a new generation is rediscovering its power. Where the innovation comes in is the modern processes for drying botanical’s to preserve the maximum concentration of active essential oils, and in the 100% biodegradable modern bags, so your plastic footprint doesn’t keep you awake at night. Pukka’s Nighttime 7 Day Kit includes tea, supplements a guide with tips and recipes. (£10)