4 Apps for Better Sleep When Traveling for Work

Guest Post by Matt Shealy

Most of us find ourselves complaining about our long commute to work, but what happens when you get a brief relief from it because you're going to be traveling instead? Then, we find ourselves complaining about how difficult it is to sleep in an unfamiliar bed. The good thing about this is that unlike a long commute, there is something you can do about sleeping in an unfamiliar bed.  

Technology has made it easier than ever to find solutions for common problems. There are several apps available that can help you get better sleep when traveling for work. Here our four of our favorites:

Sleep Genius

The Sleep Genius app is the consummate sleeping companion. Plus, it has better manners than most sleeping companions. After all, you won't have to worry about snoring or cover stealing with this. Just a well deserved, excellent night of sleep.

Music can be an incredible way to drift off. It filters out background noise and provides comfort while you head to dreamland. This app features gentle acoustic music that you can set to fade out, or that you can choose to have accompany you throughout the entire evening. When it's time to wake up, you'll have a pre-programmed alarm clock that is once again gentle. It's timed sound cycles can wake you up in an affable manner that won't jolt you shaken into your day.    

It's available for $7.99 on both iOS and Android.

Calm

If you're one of those people who have a difficult time quieting your mind once your head hits the pillow, then the Calm app is for you.  It allows you the chance to incorporate more of a meditation style into your nightly routine. With soothing sounds, it aims to quiet your mind so that you can fall asleep quickly.  

If you're a person who needs more than soothing sounds in order to fall asleep, then you can even listen to stories being narrated as you slip peacefully into your slumber. You can choose from stories by Stephen Fry, fairytales from Brothers Grimm, and more.

It's available on both iOS and Android for free, with the option to upgrade.

Sleep Cycle Power Nap

Imagine you've just arrived at your destination. You're feeling a bit jet lagged from the trip and have a couple of hours to kill before you have to begin work. You think about taking a nap, but you're concerned you might sleep too heavy and wake up feeling even groggier than you do now. Well, there's an app for that.  

Sleep Cycle Power Nap can structure your brief snooze, so that you don't drift off into a heavy REM sleep. It uses advanced technology to analyze your movements. When it senses you're getting a little too relaxed, it will gently bring you out of it.

This app is available for $2.99 on iOS only.

Rain Rain Sleep Sounds

The Rain Rain Sleep Sounds app is perfect for the kind of people who run a fan in their bedroom. Not because of the cool air, but because they enjoy the white noise it provides. You can choose from over 100 white noise sounds until you find the one that best suits you. There are storm sounds, forest sounds, summer rain, a flowing stream, and a cackling fire, just to name a few.

It's available on both iOS and Android for free, with the option to upgrade.

So, what are you waiting for? It's time to download the app you think is right for you. You'll be glad you did. 

Matt Shealy is the President of ChamberofCommerce.com. Shealy specializes in helping small businesses grow their business on the web while facilitating the connectivity between local businesses and more than 7,000 Chambers of Commerce worldwide.