While some people have no trouble falling asleep in a dark, quiet room, the rest of us need a little help. Sleep podcasts are popular here, and a new study from retailer Sleepseeker has revealed the best podcasts to help you fall asleep easier.
The study (opens in a new tab) used a variety of metrics to create its top 35 sleep podcasts, including podcast ranking and score. The podcast Sleep With Me took the top spot with a score of 8,77, closely followed by the sleep podcast Nothing Much Happens with a score of 8,35. Rounding out the top three is the Get Sleepy podcast, with a score of 8,23.
The study also looked at which sleep podcasts had the most subscribers. Sleep With Me ranked first with over 200 Castbox subscribers, followed by Tracks to Relax with over 000 subscribers and Deep Energy Podcast with over 50.
Here are the top 10 podcasts for better sleep, according to the study:
The Sleep With Me podcast has over 4,4 million listeners.
As one of the most popular sleep podcasts in the world, it's no surprise that Sleep With Me is ranked number one. What is surprising is the chasm in number of views and subscribers between Sleep With Me and its competitors.
So what is it and why is it so popular? Released in 2013 and hosted by Drew Ackerman, Sleep With Me is inspired by the late-night radio sitcom, which Ackerman says was the only thing that helped him fall asleep from insomnia.
It's essentially a narrative podcast, with stories inspired by Ackerman's childhood and beyond. Ackerman's tone of voice and slow pace are soothing, and what he's talking about won't stimulate your brain, giving you a better chance to relax and fall asleep. People who listen to the podcast swear that it helps them fall asleep faster.
You can listen to Sleep With Me for free on Spotify, or you can find it on Apple Podcasts (opens in a new tab), Google Podcasts, Listen with RadioPublic, and Android.
What are sleep podcasts and do they work?
Sleep podcasts help you feel calmer in bed, which can be tricky if experiences of insomnia, night terrors, or pain during sleep make you restless. A good sleep podcast will take your mind off worrying about falling asleep, so there's no pressure. You can also access some podcasts through your sleep tracker, depending on compatibility.
They come in a wide variety, but the most popular sleep podcasts have narrators with low-key voices that (to put it politely) hum in the background as you sit back and relax.
If you want more bedtime stories, meditation music and sleep sounds, we recommend one of the best sleep apps. Calm is one of our favorite apps, and as we explained in our Calm review, it's packed with sleep meditations to soothe bedtime anxiety.
Other ways to ensure a better night's sleep
Your bedroom makes a difference in your relationship with sleep. If you're afraid to go in because of previous sleep problems, you'll create a negative association between your bedroom and lack of sleep. A good sleep therapist can help unravel much of the psychology around this, but until then, make sure your bedroom is as cool and stress-free as possible.
This includes choosing the best mattress for your body type and the position you feel comfortable sleeping in, because that's the position you'll stay in the longest. Don't have the budget for a new bed but yours lacks comfort? Instead, try a good mattress topper, as they are only a fraction of the price.
Also consider air circulation, because the cooler the air in your bedroom, the better you'll sleep. If you find white noise soothing, consider investing in a fan to make circulation a breeze. You can also leave the window open, depending on the noise and heat from outside.
Clear away the clutter, dim the lights to a level that suits you best, and grab your best pillow with a clean pillowcase (fresh sheets help you sleep better). Then go to bed, start your sleep podcast, and enjoy this moment for yourself.
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