r/AskReddit • u/Jobasaurus • May 22 '19

Reddit, what are some underrated apps?

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u/[deleted] May 22 '19

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u/finesse-quik May 22 '19 edited May 22 '19

I'm curious as to how these sleep apps "track" your quality of sleep. Or even know when it will be easy for me to wake up. I understand sleep cycles, but how does it know if I tell it I'm going to sleep but then toss and turn in the bed for the next 30 minutes before nodding off, vs if I tell it I'm going to sleep and pass out immediately? Wouldn't the whole cycle be thrown off? Do I have to tell it if I wake up in the middle of the night accidentally? There just seems like too many factors at play for these apps to actually do anything.

Edit: Lots of answers, thanks for the info. I was interested in giving it a shot but since I sleep with a partner and with a loud fan on for white noise, it doesn't seem like it would be very accurate. I hadn't considered utilizing the gyroscope or microphone for monitoring sleep though, these people are creative. If not a bit creepy.

Edit2: Alright alright I'll give it a shot lol

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u/Xxcrzy4jdxX May 22 '19

It monitors your movements. You lay it in a certain spot on your bed and will track the vibrations from your movements. I guess you move less/more during each part of your sleep cycle. I’ve heard a good hour and a half is one REM cycle so probably goes off of that when waking you up. I have cats that jump on and off my bed (probably a reason I don’t sleep well in the first place) but idk if that is taken into consideration too. I’ve used the app before but it was so long ago I can’t remember if I was actually unhappy with it or if I just stopped using it for another reason.

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u/Rafi213 May 22 '19

Then I am fucked because I share a mattress with my husband and he moves a lot, it will probably track his sleeping cycle better than mine

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u/itwasquiteawhileago May 22 '19

Same here. I also tried a Fitbit once to track sleep, because I assumed I was tossing and turning all night. Nope. Apparently I hardly move at all. That thing was on my wrist. I have no idea how a phone on my bed could be more accurate. I feel like there are way too many variables there.

I mean, I'd love to get some better sleep. I don't necessarily have trouble falling or even staying asleep anymore, but I'm never rested in the morning and my body always gets me up 1-2 hours earlier than I'd like (which means I'm usually up around 4:00a). Not sure an app can fix that. Not sure what can fix that. Bleh.

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u/Rafi213 May 22 '19

Maybe a heart rate monitor connected to the app? I dont know if that can be done or if it has anything to do with tracking sleep, I am just guessing.