How do you sleep 8 hours in 1 hour? Oh wait, you can’t. As I get older, I've discovered a new superpower: the ability to lie in bed and replay my entire life like an Oscar-worthy movie every night tumbling down the rabbit hole of overthinking. I often average about 5 hours of sleep each night. I’ve tried forcing myself to go to bed early, but I still end up staying awake for hours before falling asleep. The consequence? I wake up feeling like a character from the land of the walking dead, which, as you can imagine, doesn't bode well for morning productivity.
I’ve tried various sleep aids and also various supplements hoping to find the perfect combination that would make me drift into dreamland at night and supercharge my focus during the day. However, personally, I don’t want to rely on taking pills just to do basic, everyday things like sleeping or concentrating — and that’s when I discovered the Apollo wearable.
Apollo is a wearable device that delivers soothing vibrations, called Apollo Vibes™, that are like music your body can feel. The higher vibrations help improve our energy and focus, while lower vibrations reduce stress and help you relax. Sounds promising, but I was skeptical, so I took a deep dive into their research and science, which were mostly done independently and have no financial relationship with Apollo Neuroscience.
What caught my attention were these magical words: two double-blind randomized placebo-controlled crossover trials. Now that's a mouthful, but it's precisely what sold me on this remarkable device.
My Experience With The Apollo Wearable
The Apollo wearable comes in a box that includes a wrist band and a clip. There are different styles and colors you can choose from; I went with the simple black, named Stealth, and I use the wrist band to wear the device like a watch. You can also switch between wearing it on your ankle, wrist, or near your heart with the clip attached to clothing. Very discreet if you want to wear it into a meeting or on a plane.
The quick set up took under 3 minutes, including downloading the free companion app (on iOS and Android) to control the device. Once you have it set up, you can choose the “Vibe” you want to feel and the intensity of the vibration.
The team recommends using the Apollo wearable at least three hours a day, five days a week, during both the day and night. Apparently, the more you use it, the better it works. The device is totally effortless to use so hitting that goal doesn’t feel like a chore -- you really just have to put it on!
When you feel the Apollo wearable vibrations coming through the device on your wrist, you feel more than vibration, you feel a rhythm that signals your emotional cortex to evoke a certain state, the same way that the right song can set a mood.
There are tons of different Vibes available on the app, I tested the three below that best suited my needs and here are my findings…
Focus | My typical morning routine was all about the double espresso shot, the instant wake-up call to rouse my inner morning zombie. I replaced my morning espresso with Apollo for one week setting it on 60 minutes on ‘Energy’ mode every morning. The result was pleasantly surprising. Instead of the usual caffeine-fueled jitters, I found myself in a state of calm and clarity. I was able to function and perform all my daily morning tasks with a notable sense of tranquility.
Calm | This is where I found that the Apollo device truly shines. I was in the midst of one of those "pull-your-hair-out" weeks, and honestly, I thought Apollo had no chance against this stress hurricane. I was in for a surprise! The soothing vibrations of Apollo Vibes help to rebalance my nervous system so I that was able to feel calmer and more in control. It's hard to put into words, but the rhythm and intensity of Apollo's vibes managed to sync with my system and help reduce my stress and anxiety to calm me down. The vibrations are like a hug for your stressed out nervous system.
Fall Asleep | Now, let's dive into the main event - the sleep-enhancing prowess of Apollo. This was the aspect of the science that piqued my curiosity most, and I am happy to report that using the device did improve my sleep. Like the "Calm" setting that soothes the stress and anxiety, the Sleep vibrations managed to calm the circus in my head and made it easier for me to drift off to dreamland.
I didn’t wake up as much in the middle of the night and I woke up feeling as if I'd just had a cozy, full night's sleep. It definitely improved my quality of sleep. I wouldn’t say it makes you fall asleep immediately, but using the vibes is now part of my soothing bedtime routine that tells my body and mind, "Hey, it's time to unwind." Before I know it, I'm slipping into sleep mode faster than I can say "goodnight."
There was also a clinical study on Apollo’s impact on sleep with over 500 users that reported the below data:
+ Up to 19% increase in deep sleep
+ Up to 14% increase in REM sleep
+ Up to 6% increase in total sleep time
+ Up to 11% increase in HRV
+ Up to 4% decrease in resting heart rate
Final Thoughts On My Apollo Wearable Review
I was definitely very skeptical prior to trying the Apollo wearable. I'd never used a device therapeutically like this before. Apollo co-founder, Dr. Dave Rabin MD, PhD is a neuroscientist and psychiatrist who specializes in the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Depression, Anxiety Disorders and Substance Use Disorders. Research-backed and supported by a plethora of studies, this device is truly built based on science. Once I discovered the treasure trove of science that Apollo was built upon, it was all I needed to give the device a go.
I am happy to say that my Apollo experience did not disappoint. In fact, it exceeded my expectations of what a vibrational device can do and the way our mind and body handles stress.
If you're in the same boat as me – struggling to focus, tossing and turning at night, or just plain drowning in stress – take my word for it: the Apollo wearable may be your new best friend. It's no magic wand, but it's the closet to it -- a quiet, steady tool guiding you to a calmer, more focused everyday life.
TCM Readers: Save $50 off an Apollo wearable sitewide sale, no code needed! Try our favorite new wellness tool for managing stress realistically day to day. Have any questions? Drop them in the comments.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This story is brought to you in partnership with Apollo. From time to time, TCM editors choose to partner with brands we believe in to bring our readers special offers. All material on The Chalkboard Mag is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health-related programs.
The post The Wearable Device That Transformed My Morning Stress Levels – My Review of the Apollo Wearable appeared first on The Chalkboard.
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