How We Use Data to Design Products for Better Sleep
At Remly Sleep, sleep is our top priority. We employ data-driven methods to design and evaluate our products, using information from sleep tracking devices and user feedback. Our design process consistently begins with testing and data analysis, examining key metrics like sleep quality in terms of sleep phases (REM, deep, and light sleep), heart rate variability (HRV), and resting heart rate (RHR) to determine how our products influence sleep quality. Read on for a detailed look at our design process.
Sleep Phases (REM, Deep, and Light Sleep)
We assess sleep phases to determine how our products impact the quality and duration of each phase. REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep is linked to dreaming and memory consolidation, while deep sleep is crucial for physical restoration and immune function. Light sleep serves as a transitional stage between REM and deep sleep.
By monitoring sleep phases, we can identify if our products enhance the duration or quality of specific sleep stages. For example, if we observe an increase in REM sleep after using our products, it suggests that our products effectively contribute to better sleep quality.
Heart Rate Variability (HRV)
HRV measures the variation in time between successive heartbeats and reflects the autonomic nervous system's activity, which controls functions like heart rate, breathing, and digestion. HRV is commonly used to gauge baseline recovery from exercise or stress.
At Remly Sleep, we utilize HRV data to assess how our products affect baseline recovery. If our products boost sleep quality, they may indirectly influence baseline recovery. Evaluating HRV is essential since a low HRV may indicate sympathetic nervous system dominance and diminished parasympathetic activity, leading to an increased risk of stress-related disorders and cardiovascular disease. By analyzing HRV data, we can determine if our products promote recovery and alleviate stress through enhanced sleep quality.
Resting Heart Rate (RHR)
RHR indicates the number of heartbeats per minute when at rest. This simple yet crucial metric helps assess overall health and fitness. Generally, a lower RHR corresponds to better cardiovascular health. In terms of sleep, RHR can reveal how our products impact the body's ability to relax and achieve a restful state. By examining RHR changes throughout the night, we can discern if our products promote relaxation and reduce physiological arousal, leading to improved sleep quality.
Utilizing Real-Time User Data to Enhance Sleep
We gather data from willing users who track their sleep with devices like Whoop, Oura Ring, and Apple Health, among others. This real-time data enables us to analyze trends, perform actual user testing, and refine our products, including design features and materials, while safeguarding users' privacy and security.
We are committed to protecting our users' personal information, using only data that has been willingly shared with us. By studying key metrics such as sleep phases (REM, deep, and light sleep), heart rate variability (HRV), and resting heart rate (RHR), we can evaluate our products' effects on sleep quality.
In summary, these metrics offer valuable insights into our products' impact on sleep quality and recovery. By analyzing data and making data-driven enhancements, we can design products based on robust scientific evidence, increasing the likelihood of helping people achieve better sleep.
Discover the Latest Science and Research We're Excited About!
Sleep
- The importance of sleep is highlighted by research that shows the detrimental effects of inadequate sleep on health and public safety. Sleep research has rapidly accelerated in recent years, revealing links between inadequate sleep and disorders such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and mood disorders. Despite this, modern lifestyles and work schedules often undervalue sleep, leading to a threat to both health and safety. Sleep is critical for cognitive performance and vigilant attention, emotional regulation, and memory consolidation. Sleep deficits from partial sleep deprivation can accumulate over time, resulting in a steady deterioration in alertness. Consolidated sleep, occurring during the appropriate physiological sequences of non-REM and REM states at night, is typically of a longer duration and better sleep quality than sleep taken at other times of the day. Therefore, it is important to prioritize sleep for our safety and physical and mental well-being.
Light and Circadian Rythm
- Systematic review of light exposure impact on human circadian rhythm : This review found that mistimed light exposure disrupts the circadian rhythm in humans, potentially causing further health impacts.
- Obayashi et al. (2018) found that exposure to light at night with an average intensity of 5 lux or higher may increase depression risk in the elderly. This level of brightness is similar to that of a candle, a nightlight, or a dimly lit room. Artificial light at night can disrupt the circadian rhythm and affect mood regulation, so it's important to minimize light exposure at night for optimal sleep environment.
- Study found dim light at night disrupted sleep, reducing total sleep time and quality in both genders. REM sleep increased under 10 lux, with no significant changes in melatonin levels. 5 lux ~ candlelight from 1m, 10 lux ~ suburban streetlamp at night.
Sleep Masks
- A recent study suggests that wearing a sleep mask can improve cognitive function the next day. Participants who slept with a sleep mask showed enhanced memory encoding and alertness. The study has real-world implications, particularly for tasks that require alertness and rapid responses. The findings suggest that wearing a sleep mask overnight can be an effective and inexpensive solution for improving cognitive performance.
Blue Light Blocking Glasses
- Blue-blocking glasses, which block blue light and help improve sleep by reducing the activation of light-sensitive cells in the eye, have been shown in 16 randomized controlled trials involving 453 patients to be effective for reducing sleep onset latency. They are a viable intervention for those with insomnia or a delayed sleep phase.
Our promises to you
We're confident that our products will improve your sleep quality, and we want you to feel the same way. That's why we offer The Remly Better Sleep Guarantee. If for any reason, you're not experiencing the same 20-minute increase in sleep every night that our average customer enjoys, simply send us a screenshot from your Apple Watch, Whoop, or Oura Ring (and soon, other devices) and we'll refund 50% of your purchase price right away.
In addition to our satisfaction guarantee, all our products come with a 60-day money-back guarantee. This guarantee covers the product itself, and provided that the product is in the same condition as when it was received by you, if for any reason you are not satisfied with the product within 60 days of purchase, you can return the product and we will refund your purchase price in full. We won't ask any questions, except for how we can improve our products.
Our mission is to improve your sleep
We understand that sleep is a crucial component of leading a happy and healthy life, and we're passionate about helping you maximize your sleep.