Meditation Apps and Insomnia: Can Technology Help You Wind Down?

Meditation Apps and Insomnia: Can Technology Help You Wind Down?

After a long day, switching off your mind isn't always easy. You might feel physically exhausted, yet find yourself lying awake replaying conversations, worrying about tomorrow or simply struggling to relax. Could the same smartphone that keeps you connected throughout the day actually help you fall asleep?

Meditation apps are becoming increasingly popular as a convenient way to unwind before bed. But can they genuinely improve sleep, particularly for people experiencing insomnia?

How Can Meditation Apps Help With Sleep?

Meditation apps such as Calm and Headspace offer guided breathing exercises, mindfulness meditations, soothing music and bedtime stories designed to encourage relaxation.

Mindfulness involves focusing on the present moment without judging your thoughts or feelings. Rather than trying to force yourself to sleep, meditation encourages you to acknowledge distracting thoughts and gently redirect your attention.

This may be particularly helpful when racing thoughts, stress or bedtime worries make it difficult to settle down.

What Does the Research Say?

Research suggests meditation apps may offer meaningful benefits for people experiencing sleep difficulties.

A study involving 9,907 subscribers to the meditation app Calm found that 90% of participants experiencing difficulty falling asleep reported some improvement after using the app.¹ Additionally, approximately 70% reported improvements in staying asleep, while 79% noticed improvements in getting restful sleep.¹

Interestingly, participants with more severe sleep disturbances sometimes reported greater benefits from certain features, including bedtime stories and sleep meditations.¹

However, these findings were based on participants' personal experiences rather than a controlled clinical trial. While encouraging, further research is needed to establish how effectively meditation apps treat insomnia.

Making Meditation Apps Part of Your Bedtime Routine

If you're curious about trying meditation apps, start with a short guided session before bedtime. Even five to ten minutes may provide an opportunity to relax and shift your attention away from daily worries.

Choose calming audio content, reduce your screen brightness and avoid scrolling through notifications once your session begins.

Consistency can also help. Incorporating meditation into a regular wind-down routine may make it easier to transition from a busy day towards bedtime.

Importantly, meditation apps aren't a replacement for professional treatment. For persistent insomnia, cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) remains the recommended first-line treatment.

How Sove CPAP Clinic Can Help

While meditation apps may support relaxation, ongoing sleep difficulties can sometimes indicate an underlying sleep disorder, such as insomnia or obstructive sleep apnea.

Founded in 2008, Sove CPAP Clinic has over 100 clinics nationwide. Our team can help investigate sleep concerns and guide you towards appropriate support. Where suitable, we offer bulk-billed home sleep studies for eligible patients.

If you're regularly struggling to sleep, waking unrefreshed or experiencing daytime fatigue, speak with your doctor. Call our friendly team on 1300 76 29 39 or email info@thecpapclinic.com.au to learn how Sove can help.

When considering whether a sleep study is right for you, speak to your doctor. Medicare criteria and T&Cs apply.

References

1. Huberty, Jennifer, et al. “Can a Meditation App Help My Sleep? A Cross-Sectional Survey of Calm Users.” PLOS ONE, edited by Sergio A. Useche, vol. 16, no. 10, Oct. 2021, p. e0257518, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0257518