According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 3 American adults do not get enough sleep. Between work, family responsibilities, and everyday chores, sleep may take a back seat. Luckily for us, there are ways you can be proactive without making huge life changes.

Sleep apps are a growing trend in today's society and they all work to help you fall sleep, stay sleep, and monitor your sleep patterns. Some or the sleep apps use methods like colors and images, claming music, and nature sounds to soothe you. Others use white noise, hypnotic techniques, and guided meditation imagery. Check out the 7 favorite sleep apps currently on the market.

1. Awoken - Lucid Dreaming Tool (for Android)

Cost: Free with In-App Purchases

     If you're like most people, you're not aware when you're dreaming and don't remember what most of your dreams were about. However, there is a sleep phenomena called lucid dreaming that allows the dreamer to eb aware during their dream cycle. Awoken is a sleep app which combines a journal and practice exercises to help you achieve lucid dreaming and dream awareness.

2. Sleep Cycle - Smart Alarm Clock (for Android and IOS)

Cost: Free or Premium version

     Normally, your alarm clock is set for a specific time. You may be jolted awake at any point during your sleep cycle which can make it hard to fully wake up. The Sleep Cycle Alarm app performs sleep tracking to record your sleep habits. Using the Sleep Cycle Theory, the alarm wakes you during light sleep. To achieve this, you set a window of time to wake up. The sleep apps senses you sleep movements and rings to wake you at the optimal time in your sleep cycle. This allows you to wake up feeling refreshed.

3. Relax Melodies - Sleep Sounds (for Android and IOS)

Cost: Free

     It can be hard to relax before hitting the sack. Relax Melodies sleep app allows you to combine sounds and melodies with guided meditation and brainwave beats to help you unwind and ease into sleep. You'll never get bpred with the same sounds because there are so many combinantions you can create.

4. Sleep Cycle Power Nap (for OIS)

Cost: $1.99 

     Sometimes a nap can do a world of good. The Sleep Cycle Power Nap app allows you to set the time for a short 20-minute power nap or a full nap of 90 minutes. Your phone's accelerometer senses when you fall asleep then sets the alarm to wake you up. This sleep app also has various sounds to help you fall asleep.

5. Pzizz - Sleep, Nap, Focus (for Android and IOS

Cost: Free Trial, $9.99 per month

     For some people, it;s difficult  to turn off all the activity of the day and unwind. Pzizz is a sleep app that combines music, sound effects, and binaural beats to ease you into relaxation. Pzizz uses an algorithm to generate a slightly different soundtrack each time you use it, but the sounds are similar enough that your mind associates them with sleep. This helps you relax and get your zzz's.

6. White Noise Lite (for Android and IOS)

Cost: Free

     If you want to fall into a deep, blissful sleep while listening to the sounds of ocean waves and soothing sounds, White Noise Lite may be the best sleep app for you. The app comes loaded with several looped sounds, such as a burning campfire, swaying boat, and thunder. You can also set a gentle alarm (guiter strum, chime, violin, and more) to wake you up.

7. Relax & Sleep Well - Hypnosis and Meditation (for Android and OIS)

Cost: Free with In-App Purchases

     Although it may not work for everyone, hypnosis has been used to treat a variety of issues, such as pain, alcoholism, and smoking. Some people also use self-hypnosis to treat insomnia or other sleeping problems. If the idea of hypnosis sounds strange, don't worry. Hypnosis won't put you in trance. Instead, hypnosis is used to help you get into a deep state of relaxation. Relax & Sleep Well is a sleep app that can guide you through the process. The app combines voice-led hypnosis and relaxing sounds to lull you to sleep.

Source: sleepassociation.org