In these frenetic times falling asleep is an issue for many people. Various forms of insomnia affect people worldwide, and the number of cases has been consistently increasing in the past decades especially during the last year and the COVID-19 pandemic. The modern lifestyle in most countries has a terrible influence on people’s sleep cycle.
People have to deal with worries, depression, and anxiety in a way that our grandparents never had to. This is because of a series of stress sources and over-excitement sources that did not exist before. The modern level of human consciousness, the diffusion of mass media and social networks (always presenting us with impossible standards to compare our lives with), and the over-excitement that the modern lifestyle involves (screen-time, always connected, working endless hours, traffic and commute, occupations that are mostly menial jobs, etc.) are the main sources of stress and excitement, which both hinder us from sleeping peacefully.
Smartphones and sleep
Using a smartphone before sleeping is, generally speaking, a bad habit. That is because of a couple of reasons: it is an activity that keeps your brain active and, depending on what you do, excited as well; also, the screen light interferes with a neural system (located in the hippocampus) that regulates the sleep cycle and adjusts all circadian cycles. However, many people cannot quit this habit, sometimes for simple lack of will, sometimes because the alternatives seem worse, sometimes for work-related reasons, or because that is the only moment they have to chat with their dear ones.
To alleviate the problem though, there are a few tricks that you should follow in order to fall asleep more easily and grant yourself a peaceful rest. First, here are some ground rules which do not depend on what you do with your smartphone (messaging, social networks, games – it makes no difference):
- Set the phone to mute or to a very low volume. Loud noises are obviously a source of stress and/or excitement.
- Set the screen brightness to the minimum level. If the automatic mode is enabled, just turn off the lights in the room and your device will automatically do that for you.
- Most devices have a night mode, use it. The night mode is a useful feature that adjusts the color temperature in order to project the least blue light possible. The screen will turn yellowish, but your eyes and brain will quickly adapt to that, and in a short while, you will not even notice anymore. The reason why this is suggestible is that, of all wavelengths, the blue light is the one that hinders sleep the most.
- Do not get your arms, wrists, or neck tired. If you want to use your phone or tablet in bed, help yourself do that comfortably. Find a comfortable position and consider purchasing products like phone holders (there are a dozen kinds, including specific models for bed use) or a cover or tool that improves your grip on the device.
Why use a mobile game or app to fall asleep?
If you want to spend some time on your mobile device before sleeping, Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok, Call of Duty, Candy Crush, are all terrible options. When you need to sleep, you cannot engage in exciting activities like playing a war game or watching funny videos and expect to fall asleep the minute you put down your phone. Your mind needs time to calm down and fall in the relaxing state that precedes sleep.
So, if you want to use your phone for a while before sleeping, or even exploit it to help you sleep, you need to spend your time on an app that is relaxing. Relaxing does not mean just that you like it. Relaxing means that the app must not be too engaging, difficult, or stressful and must not expose you to high-volume sounds, bright colors, and blinking lights.
Fortunately, there are a few dozen apps that are meant to help people sleep and/or relax that are perfect for this goal. So, without further ado, let us present you with a list of the top 5 apps or games that will help you sleep longer and better.
All these apps and games are available in free download on the App Store and on the Google Play Store, meaning they are available both for Android and iOS.
Best mobile games that help you sleep
On the various stores, there are several apps to help people sleep, but they are all quite similar and easy to use, and all they do is basically tracking sleep time and sometimes playing relaxing music, so we will not address that subject. What we will focus on, on the other hand, is games, games that will keep your mind occupied but not excited or frustrated, in order to provide you with the best conditions to sleep.
- Antistress – relaxation toys, by JindoBlu
This app is great to help you sleep as well as help you relax in different situations. Antistress app It is basically an add-free collection of minigames; the app features dozens of free minigames and many more are on sale for a couple of dollars. There are all sorts of anti-stress minigames, like clicking buttons or working gears or playing with Newton’s cradle, and many more.
Some of my favorites are the painting games (chalk and blackboard, canvas and paint, finger and foggy window, etc.), but there is much more: you can pile up rocks, play with a fidget spinner, play the fifteen game, feed fish in a tank, play darts, play pool, play a Tibetan bell, burst bubble wrap, play music, play relaxing rain and water sounds, sharpen pencils, cut vegetables, mow the lawn, write in lettering, decorate a Christmas tree, sort biscuits by shape, etc.
These are less than half of the games on the app. In most games, you play simply by touching the screen, but some are based on other interactions like tilting your device. The general point is that none of the games are challenging or particularly entertaining, they are easy and stupid, and actually quite dull. Perfect to rest your mind over them and just relax. And there is plenty of choice.
- Orbia – Tap and Relax, by JOX Development LLC
Orbia – Tap and Relax is a very simple but finely designed game. All you have to do is tap on the screen at the right moment to move the main character from a position to the following one without getting blocked by the “opponents”, which are objects moving around the orbit of your landing spot. It is very simple and just a little challenging, but the attention to detail is great and even when you lose there are no annoying sounds or others, you just start over. The music is very relaxing, and the graphics are remarkable. There are hundreds of different background wallpapers and animations (the “different worlds”, as the game presents them) that change at every level for an experience that is never boring, but neither exciting. Appeal and relaxation are perfectly balanced.
- Harmony: Relaxing Music Puzzles, by InfinityGames.io
The Harmony app game is all about sound. You will have to visually mirror a sequence of dots on the screen, as a sound is played every time you interact with the sequence. Different musical instruments are available as you unlock them while playing. The game is simple and relaxing, the only flaw I personally spotted is that you must tap on the screen to skip to the following level once you complete a level. If it skipped automatically, it would be more relaxing in my opinion. It is possible to purchase a premium version of the app, but the cost of $60 a year is just ridiculous.
- Meditation Game, by Unity
Meditation apps are a very popular choice to ease the sleeping process. This one specifically is perfect for the purpose since it does not require much movement or a specific position for the player. The game itself is not challenging or interesting at all, you basically have to follow a dot on the screen and move it around by tilting your phone as relaxing music is played (very nice music in my opinion) and motivational phrases are shown on the display (which are a little corny though). This is a very simple app, but it is not for everybody, it is most appealing for meditation lovers and people who are into motivational environments that promote self-growth.
- The Celestial Tree – Unique Beautiful Game, by Mind Blossom
This game is different and probably more challenging than the other presented. You basically have to grow a tree while music is being played. Tapping is the main kind of interaction. This game is very enjoyable and reminded me of a favorite of mine, Cell to Singularity, but it is not flawless, especially sleep-wise. The music is not particularly nice, it is honestly quite annoying, and there are many menus and submenus in the game, a little too complex for the purpose. Also, the graphics are not the best, the game is more about the content than the looks.
What I do
I am a Canadian gaming man, so I like to play slots online and in the evening, but I never play them after 9 pm. If I play after 9 pm, I always play the above games, and have worked well for me.
