Exploring Don't Sleep's Alternatives For A Good Night's Rest

Don't Sleep is a free-to-use utility that prevents your computer from entering sleep mode, shutting down, or taking any other action triggered by periods of inactivity. It does this by tricking the operating system into thinking there are important tasks in progress. While this is useful for preventing unexpected shutdowns, it can drain your battery quickly. There are several alternatives to Don't Sleep, including Amphetamine, Caffeine, and Should I Sleep, which are compatible with different operating systems.

Natural sleep aids

Sleep is incredibly important for your health. It helps your body and brain function properly, improving your learning, memory, decision-making, and even creativity. Unfortunately, many people don't get enough sleep each night, and around 20% of adults experience occasional symptoms of insomnia.

If you're struggling to get a good night's rest, there are several natural sleep aids that may help you fall asleep and improve your sleep quality.

Melatonin

Melatonin is a hormone that your body produces naturally to signal to your brain that it's time to sleep. Time of day influences this hormone's cycle of production and release—melatonin levels naturally rise in the evening and fall in the morning. Melatonin supplements have become a popular sleep aid, especially for those with jet lag or those whose work schedules require them to sleep during the daytime, such as shift workers.

Valerian Root

Valerian is an herb native to Asia and Europe, and its root is commonly used as a natural treatment for symptoms of anxiety, depression, and menopause. It is one of the most commonly used sleep-promoting herbal supplements in the United States and Europe. Menopausal and postmenopausal women have reported improved sleep quality and reduced insomnia symptoms after taking valerian. However, it's important to note that valerian root may have side effects, including diarrhea, headache, nausea, and heart palpitations.

Magnesium

Magnesium is a mineral that plays a crucial role in hundreds of processes in the human body, including brain function and heart health. It can help quiet the mind and body, making it easier to fall asleep. Magnesium is known to relax muscles and induce sleep, and it may also increase levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a brain messenger with calming effects. Magnesium supplements are available in various forms, including some that combine magnesium with other sleep-promoting ingredients such as glycine or melatonin.

Lavender

The soothing fragrance of lavender is believed to enhance sleep. Several studies suggest that smelling lavender oil shortly before sleep can improve sleep quality in those with or without insomnia. Lavender aromatherapy is considered safe, but it's important to note that oral ingestion of lavender oil has been linked to nausea, belching, and diarrhea in some cases.

Passionflower

Passionflower, or *Passiflora incarnata*, is a popular herbal remedy for insomnia, especially in tea or extract form. Animal studies have demonstrated passionflower's sleep-promoting effects, and human studies have shown that passionflower tea or extract may help slightly improve sleep quality. However, the evidence is mixed, and more studies are needed.

Other Natural Sleep Aids

Other natural sleep aids that have shown some promise in improving sleep include glycine, cannabidiol (CBD), tryptophan, ginkgo biloba, and L-theanine. However, these supplements have not been as widely studied, and further research is needed to confirm their effectiveness and safety.

It's important to remember that even natural sleep aids should not replace good sleeping habits. Additionally, it's always a good idea to consult your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you have existing health conditions or are taking other medications.

CBD

Benefits of CBD for Sleep:

• CBD has a calming effect on the nervous system and can help relax the mind and body, making it easier to fall asleep.
• It may help treat anxiety disorders, which often contribute to sleep difficulties.
• CBD has been found to improve sleep in people with insomnia and other sleep disorders.
• CBD can be especially beneficial for those who experience pain or anxiety that disrupts their sleep.
• It can also help with restless leg syndrome by reducing involuntary muscle twitching.

Forms and Dosage:

• CBD comes in various forms, including oils, tinctures, gummies, capsules, vapes, and topical solutions.
• The dosage of CBD for sleep varies depending on individual needs and tolerance. It's recommended to start with a low dose and gradually increase it until the desired effects are achieved.
• Full-spectrum CBD contains all the cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant, including trace amounts of THC. It creates an "entourage effect," enhancing the overall impact.
• Broad-spectrum CBD is similar to full-spectrum but without THC, making it a good choice for those wanting to avoid THC.
• CBD isolate is pure CBD without any other cannabinoids. It's THC-free but doesn't offer the entourage effect.

Potential Risks and Considerations:

• CBD is generally considered safe, but it may cause side effects like drowsiness, changes in appetite, and fatigue.
• It can interact with certain medications, especially those metabolized by the liver. Consult a doctor before using CBD if you take any prescriptions.
• CBD products may contain higher or lower levels of CBD and THC than indicated on the label, so it's important to purchase from reputable brands that provide third-party lab testing results.
• CBD is not regulated by the FDA for sleep, and more research is needed to fully understand its effects on sleep disorders.

Recommended CBD Products for Sleep:

• Aspen Green Rest Organic Full Spectrum CBD Gummies: These gummies are physician-formulated and contain full-spectrum CBD with a touch of THC. They're made with organic hemp, are vegan-friendly, and have a delightful berry flavor.
• Soul Sleepi Gummies: Soul Sleepi offers a range of delicious flavors, including Blueberry Lemonade and Chamomile Honey. Their gummies are THC-free and enhanced with terpenes, CBN, and melatonin for better sleep regulation.
• Medterra Sound Asleep CBD Gummies: These gummies are ideal for those who need to fall asleep quickly. They contain a potent blend of CBD, THC, melatonin, and L-theanine, ensuring faster and more effective results.
• R&R CBD Sleep Gummies: These gummies are melatonin-free and designed for long-term sleep support. They're crafted with CBD, CBN, L-theanine, and ashwagandha to help improve sleep habits over time.
• CBDfx CBD Gummies for Sleep with Melatonin: A potent blend of CBD, melatonin, and natural botanicals makes these gummies a good choice for seasoned cannabis users seeking an alternative to traditional sleep aids.
• Koi CBD Nighttime Rest Gummies: Koi CBD gummies are allergen-free, kosher, and vegan-friendly. They're made with broad-spectrum CBD and melatonin, offering natural sleep support without the side effects of traditional sleep medicine.

Float Therapy

How it Works

The absence of external stimuli in the float environment essentially eliminates the body's stress response, allowing the body and mind to enter a state of deep relaxation. This reduction in stress also helps to lower cortisol levels, which are often elevated in people who are sleep-deprived. Cortisol is a stimulating hormone that peaks in the morning and falls at night; high levels can interfere with sleep.

In addition, the magnesium in the Epsom salts can be absorbed through the skin, promoting muscle relaxation and removing harmful substances such as free radicals from the body. Magnesium also stabilizes sleep-wake cycles and helps people sleep more soundly.

Benefits for Sleep

Research has also shown that floating can alter brain activity to resemble the lighter stages of sleep, when the body is in a deeply relaxed, mixed state of consciousness. Floating increases the presence of low-frequency delta and theta brain waves, which are associated with deep relaxation, enhanced creativity, and the onset of sleep.

Who Should Try It?

Precautions

While float therapy is generally safe, there are some precautions to be aware of. It is recommended to shower before and after floating, and to wear earplugs to minimize the risk of infection. If you have any open cuts or wounds, it is best to avoid floating until they have healed. Additionally, women who are menstruating should reschedule their float session for after their period has ended.

Red Light Therapy

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that our body's internal clock, or circadian rhythm, responds "to light as a signal to be awake, and to dark as a signal to fall asleep." This internal clock is sensitive to blue-wavelength light, which is the kind of light emitted from phones, TV, and laptop screens, as well as the sun. Exposure to blue light suppresses the release of melatonin, the hormone that helps us sleep.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, red light is thought to encourage the release of melatonin. However, there is limited research on the effects of red light on sleep, with only a handful of small-scale studies (ranging from 10 to 30 participants) investigating this claim.

One such study, conducted in 2012, found that red light therapy improved the sleep quality and serum melatonin levels of 20 female basketball players. The participants received 30 minutes of full-body irradiation from a red-light therapy machine. Another study, led by Mariana Figueiro in 2019, found that delivering red light to closed eyes during sleep mitigated sleep inertia (the groggy feeling that lingers after waking up) in 30 adult participants.

Despite these findings, some experts remain sceptical about the benefits of red light therapy for sleep. Given the limited research, psychologist Joshua Tal states, "this is one of those situations where there's a sleep 'hack,' but there's no evidence behind it really. I don't see the benefit." Similarly, Figueiro, whose research has shown that red light can induce alertness, claims that she "would not make the claim that (red light) promotes sleep."

Instead, the benefits of red light for sleep may lie in its low tendency to suppress melatonin compared to other types of light. By replacing the light you're exposed to before sleep with red light, you may be minimising the disruption to your circadian system, which can lead to better sleep.

Overall, while red light doesn't necessarily promote sleep, it is less disruptive than other types of light. So, if you're looking for a night light or need to keep a light on while you sleep, red light is a good option. However, as Dr. Raj Dasgupta, an associate professor of clinical medicine, states, "what's better than red light is no light" when it comes to sleep.

Amphetamine

Some alternatives to Amphetamine include:

• Caffeine for Windows, which is also free and works by simulating a keypress once every 59 seconds so your machine won't lock the screen or activate the screensaver.
• Stimulator, the most popular Linux alternative to Amphetamine, which is also free and open source.
• PowerToys - Awake, a free and open-source tool for Windows that keeps the computer awake without managing its power and sleep settings.
• Caffeine for Linux, a free and open-source status bar application that prevents the activation of the screensaver and the "sleep" power-saving mode.
• Caffeine for Mac, a free program that prevents your Mac from automatically going to sleep.
• KeepingYouAwake, a small menu bar utility for macOS that can prevent your Mac from entering sleep mode for a predefined duration or as long as it is activated.

Frequently asked questions