Night Owl for Android

I don’t have traditional insomnia but more sleep phase issues/feeling sleepy at the wrong times - I sleep fine once I go to bed - but I was going to bed as late as 5AM, getting up between 7:30-11AM, and was trying to catch up on sleep by sleeping in on weekends. Getting up early on weekdays for a month didn’t make me sleepy at night. A sleep medicine appointment was a couple months away so I decided to try this app while waiting. I am so happy I did! The program is supposedly individualized based on your response to sleep logs you do the first week or so, and I believe it truly is, because it is the first time that I was ever given sleep advice that truly applied to me and is helping. I am about halfway through and already going to bed by 1 or 2 and getting up around 7 every day. My family is happier. I am actually starting to feel sleepy at night. You definitely really have to stick with it for it to work- repeating tasks and building routines and focusing on certain thoughts is part of how CBT works. Completing tasks within the app takes a minute or two most days and maybe 10-20 minutes or so once a week when you are given new education & tasks. The app could use a challenge question 1-2 times a week that asks you to name a couple things that could or are interfering with a step/task and has you troubleshoot a couple ideas that could help if any and asks you to take one action that could help if you have one (with the understanding that it’s self-reflection and content won’t be addressed specifically by the program). I have had no issues with the interface described in prior reviews so I believe at least on iPhones they have been fixed. You can zoom in and out on text with buttons on-screen, and the sleep logs are quick and easy to use. I appreciate the educational material and that important points are covered both in text & in video so it covers different learning styles and drives home key points. The videos are low budget in-office, but they’re easy to follow and they work so it’s not really important. My notifications don’t work correctly- I get a reminder to complete a sleep log after it’s already done, and the red notification circle comes & goes seemingly at random regardless of whether my tasks are completed. I just set my own bedtime reminders etc, but it would be helpful if the app gave supportive reminders at appropriate times based on our program. Overall I highly recommend trying the app to anyone who cannot easily access (or doesn’t want to do) in-person cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia or sleep phase disorders, or to use as an additional support.

I am generally happy with this app. That is to say, my sleeping has improved, both qualitatively and quantitatively. I think there are a few areas in which the app could be improved, and I am providing feedback to the developer with specifics. But in general I think it’s worth the time, effort, and money as it is right now.

I learned a lot about healthy sleep habits and changing my negative thoughts towards insomnia. Thank you so much Sleep Coach!

The interface of this app honestly could use some updating but if you get over that and complete the program, you will see results. I’ve had severe insomnia on and off for about 8 years now. In my most recent cycle I had tried Mitrazapine, Trazodone and some other prescription meds. They would all work seasonally but my body would eventually reject them. My doctor said I needed to try a program like this now that I had been treating my anxiety and my insomnia hadn’t subsided. I say all of this to say that after the 60 days I had completely reset my circadian rhythm and not longer needed sleeping pills to sleep. The process seems tedious but it genuinely works.

Just writing in to say that it’s only my first day using the app and there are problems. The video has no way to play in the intro lecture. Also the text on the sleep logs is not up to accessibility stabdards... like at all. It’s white on light, light gray and impossible to see and i have excellent eye sight.