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Gear Review: Lark Silent Alarm Clock

Leta Shy — Sun, 13 May 2012 16:48:00 PDT

You can count me as one of the 30 percent of people who don't get enough sleep every night, so when Lark sent me its silent alarm clock ($100) to test a couple months ago, I was all about it. Since then, I've been using it pretty regularly, here's what I think of the alarm clock.

First, here's what it is: The Lark is part app (compatible with iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad only at the moment, but an Android version seems imminent), part motion-sensing wristband that vibrates to wake you up and tracks your sleep quality throughout the night. It promises to both help you wake up more naturally and without disturbing your bedmate and change your personality from sleep-deprived night owl to well-rested morning lark. Included in the package is the Lark sensor, wristband, and charging dock where you plug your wristband into when you wake up - both to shut off the vibrating alarm and ensure that your wristband has enough juice to monitor your sleeping stats for the next night. The charging dock includes a USB port to connect your iPhone charger to it, so you don't have to use two sockets for each.

Who it's for: The Lark is useful if you have a partner and you both wake up at different times. Since it's a silent alarm clock, it rouses you with a series of vibrations through your wristband, so if your normal wake-up call is earlier than your bedmate's, your partner can snooze away without being disturbed. That may or may not be valuable enough for you to justify the $100 price tag, but it is an effective solution. Besides the alarm clock portion, the Lark app tracks several sleeping stats: how many hours you slept as well as how many times you woke up during the night and how long it took you to fall asleep (both based on your movements).

Keep reading for my thoughts on the Lark alarm clock.

For Better Sleep, Do These 3 Things 20 Minutes Before Bed

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 10 May 2012 05:01:37 PDT

We spend about a third of our lives in slumberland, but many people complain of not sleeping well. If you have a tough time falling asleep or you toss and turn in the middle of the night, try exercising during the day and limiting alcohol and caffeine a few hours before bedtime. But if you are doing this already and still have troubles, here are three things to do immediately before hitting the hay to calm your body and mind and help you get the restful night of sleep you crave.

The Power of Water
Twenty minutes before bedtime, dim the lights in the bathroom, turn on some relaxing tunes on your iPhone and take a warm shower or bath. The heat soothes achy muscles, and the steam clears your sinuses, which is essential if allergy symptoms prevent you from sleeping well at night. It's also a great way to wash away germs and prevent you from getting sick, which can also make it difficult to sleep.

Bye-Bye Pains
After your 10-minute warm bath or shower, slip into your PJs and do five minutes of stretching to ease any pains that prevent you from sleeping. Lower back pain is common for many, so if yours bothers you, here's a yoga sequence to offer back pain relief. If a sore neck and shoulders are your woe, do these soothing stretches. A little self-massage can also ease muscle tension, or apply a heating pad or one of those rice pillows you warm up in the microwave to sore areas.

Get Bored
Now slip into bed, not with a riveting, can't-put-it-down book, but one that has a dull, monotonous, stale topic that's bound to have your eyelids drooping in minutes. Be sure to read from an actual book, not a laptop or iPad, as the lights cue your brain to wake up.

Another Reason to Sleep More: Weight Gain Linked to Lack of Zs

Leta Shy — Tue, 01 May 2012 17:17:17 PDT

We know that not getting enough sleep puts you at a higher risk for obesity, among many other complications. And sleep experts have also warned that getting too much sleep has its own set of risks, like heart disease. But a new study has found that, when it comes to the bathroom scale, getting less sleep may be far worse for you than too much.

Scientists who looked at 1,000 sets of twins found that the siblings who slept fewer than seven hours per night were likely to weigh more because of genetic factors. In comparison, the siblings who slept seven to nine hours (or more than nine hours) weighed less and were less likely to be affected by any inherited obesity genes. In fact, the researchers think that getting enough sleep is a major element in how much a person's body weight is influenced by any genetic predisposition to being overweight or obese.

When you're already exercising regularly and eating right, it's nice to be reminded that sleeping more - especially if you are sleep-deprived - can give you that extra push when it comes to weight loss, no matter what body-weight issues you've inherited.

8 Signs You're Sleep Deprived

Leta Shy — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 19:45:22 PDT

Do you normally get enough sleep? Many people don't; in fact, a new study by the Centers for Disease Control, says that 30 percent of all workers in the United States are sleep deprived, meaning they get fewer than seven hours of quality sleep a night. That can put employees like drivers, warehouse workers, and health care providers at on-the-job risk, but even if you're just chained to your desk, chronic sleeplessness can still affect your health by increasing your risk of obesity, heart disease, and other conditions. So, how do you know you're sleep deprived? Here are eight signs you should be getting better sleep, from sleep experts and Prevention magazine.

You need an alarm to wake up.
You use the snooze button on your alarm more than twice.
You fall asleep in fewer than 10 minutes.
Simple decisions stump you.
You're still hungry after eating all day.
You keep coming down with colds.
Weird things make you cry.
You've become a klutz.

If this sounds like you during the workweek, read on for our advice on how to get a good night's sleep.

Real-Life Tricks to Help You Sleep

Leta Shy — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 16:18:37 PDT

Not getting enough sleep can lead to anything from weight gain to an increased risk of heart disease, so listen up! We asked our friends on Facebook what works to help them sleep every night, and they were ready with answers. Read on for the real-life tricks that really work!

3 Drinks to Skip and 3 to Enjoy Before Bedtime

Lizzie Fuhr — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 15:55:25 PDT

You may think that your nighttime nightcap routine isn't affecting your sleep patterns, but guess again. To be sure you're imbibing beverages that are going to help you out, instead of hinder you from catching some solid Zs, check out these recommendations that will help curb late-night cravings.

Instead of white tea, drink herbal: White tea may not seem like a real culprit, but guess again; while farther down the stimulant scale, it still contains brain-buzzing caffeine. Just grab some lovely chamomile or caffeine-free green tea to help you calm down before bed. We're also loving Sleepy Time Extra over here these days!
Instead of orange juice, drink tart cherry juice: Lots of juices like orange have a high sugar content that's going to keep you up and moving. The exception to the rule comes in the form of tart cherry juice. Cherry juice actually contains melatonin, which can assist you in getting some much-needed rest.
Instead of booze, go for some warm milk: You may think that drink is going to help you chill out in bed, but instead, it can do just the opposite and keep you up or make for a restless night of sleep. Instead of trying to get comfort in something boozy, a warm glass of milk will calm you down in a nostalgic, G-rated way. This may be a tough switch, but your body will thank you for it later.

The 6 Things You Should Always Avoid Before Bedtime

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 11:26:28 PDT

Not getting enough Zs can really affect your health: it can lead to weight gain, weaken the immune system, and make you feel foggy the next day. If you're constantly having trouble falling asleep, or you toss and turn all night, avoid doing these six things before going to bed.

From the Fit Community: How to Get the Right Amount of Sleep

Fit Community — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 01:52:24 PDT

Trouble sleeping? FitSugar reader meetcasey has a few words of advice. She posted her tips in our Get Fit For 2012 group.

Sometimes you just can’t get it right. “Too much sleep or too little sleep can be dangerous to your health.” OK, Goldilocks - how’s your porridge? The latest research says you need more than six hours of sleep a night, but no more than eight hours. So basically jury says, "We’ll take seven!"

Too little sleep puts people at a significantly higher risk of stroke, heart attack, and congestive heart failure, and people who sleep too much have a higher prevalence of chest pain and coronary artery disease.

Read on for tips on getting quality sleep after the break.

15 Foods to Help You Sleep

FitSugar — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 18:05:12 PDT

If you rely on sleeping pills for a good night's sleep, take note: a recent study found that those who took sleeping aids like Ambien and Lunesta had a higher risk of dying sooner or developing cancer. While the jury's still out on whether the study found merely a correlation between being sick and taking sleeping pills (rather than the medication being the cause of the early deaths), why not play it safe with a natural fix? If you're a restless sleeper, try eating any of these foods a few hours before bedtime and be ready for a personal visit from Mr. Sandman.

Sources: Flickr User JPescada, Thinkstock

Strategies to Get Your Energy Back

Health — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 13:13:28 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Health.com here on our site.

Can't seem to get enough rest? To-do list dragging you down? Hit refresh with these foods, moves, and must-dos for a more revved-up you.
By Mary Kate Frank

Wish you were still bounding out of bed like you did when you were 22? Who doesn't! But it can be hard to summon all your old verve in the midst of the daily grind.

"The main reason I see for loss of energy in women is that they have too much to do," says Michael Roizen, MD, chief wellness officer at the Cleveland Clinic and founder of youbeauty.com. "There's a merry-go-round of caring for kids, caring for parents, working, and not paying attention to yourself or getting proper sleep."

Health.com: How to Fake a Good Night's Sleep

Sometimes there's a medical cause (like a vitamin deficiency or thyroid disorder) for a lack of energy. If you feel deeply fatigued all the time, schedule a checkup ASAP. But if your sluggishness is just a case of you on overload, the good news is that you can do something about it yourself. Here, Dr. Roizen and other health pros share strategies for putting the pep back in your step.

Sleep more soundly
Although it's true that you naturally begin to sleep more lightly in your mid-40s - a result of changes in brain waves as you age - you can start having trouble catching zzz's much sooner. "I've got patients who at age 30 are sleeping like 60-year-olds because of stress," says Michael Breus, PhD, author of The Sleep Doctor's Diet Plan.

A good night's rest is essential to waking up fully energized. Learn a few simple steps to snooze smarter after the break: