Having trouble falling asleep? Sleep is vital for health and wellbeing, mental focus and keeping your immune system strong, but in this fastpaced world a good night’s sleep can be elusive. We’ve found six apps to help you get the most out of your nights so you’ll wake up full of energy and ready to seize the day.

Headspace

The popular meditation and mindfulness app Headspace also offers relaxing stories, music, wind-down exercises, and more to help you “put your mind to bed”. With meditations for the end of the day, dreamy sounds as you’re falling asleep, guided relaxation exercises if you wake in the night and a Sleep Health course to support more restful sleep, Headspace could be the solution if you’re still counting sheep.

Download it on the App Store or Google Play.

Sleep Cycle

For data junkies, Sleep Cycle’s sound analysis tracks your sleep patterns, including snoring, sleep talking, coughing and other sounds, to help you better understand your sleeping habits. Plus, its intelligent alarm clock is designed to gently wake you up during lightest sleep phase, ensuring you start your day full of energy. Visit the Sleep Cycle website to see how many users are asleep right now!

Download it on the App Store or Google Play.

Noisli

If you’re searching for the perfect background sounds to lull you to sleep, Noisli might be for you. With a selection of noisescapes from wind and white noise to the comforting crackling of a fire or the bustle of a busy cafe, this app will have you snoozing before you know it. You can enjoy Noisli’s premade playlists or create your own personalised soundtrack to slumber.

Download it on the App Store or Google Play.

Slumber

You’ll feel your eyelids get heavy in no time with Slumber, an audio library that promises to guide you gently into sleep. Let sleep meditations lull you into a deep state of relaxation, get lost in a soothing story by therapeutic hypnotist Dan Jones or immerse yourself in a sound experience designed to relax body and mind.

Download it on the App Store or Google Play.

Calm

Calm’s mission is to make the world happier and healthier. This app is designed to improve sleep quality, reduce stress and anxiety, improve focus and more. It features music, meditations and stretching exercises to help you wind down after a long day. And what could be more soothing than the voice of American actor and producer Matthew McConaughey? Calm also features sleep stories read aloud by celebrities including Laura Dern, Idris Elba and Stephen Fry.

Download it on the App Store or Google Play.

DreamLab

The Vodafone Foundation’s multi-award winning DreamLab app uses the processing power of your idle phone to help solve cancer while you sleep. The Garvan Institute of Medical Research needs more computing power to speed up cancer research. Donate the power of your smartphone to help by simply downloading the app and charging your smartphone while you sleep. Already, users are helping crunch data in half the time as Garvan’s supercomputer – forging a path towards personalised treatments for cancer.

Download it on the App Store or Google Play.