My Coping Tip for Anxiety-Induced Insomnia...for Free!

I am a teacher and, because of that, it’s second nature for me to share great ideas and hacks when they come along. Whether I come across an idea or solution that is more efficient or more affordable, I try to make a note of it and pass it on. I mean, who doesn’t want easier and cheaper, right? As someone who struggles with insomnia, I find that tips for getting better sleep are no exception to that rule.

My tip for getting better sleep

The hype got me.

Anxiety reared its ugly head a few months ago, and I have been forced to look for some new sleep solutions. My usual tricks have been failing miserably. As per usual, my internet searches have created quite a lengthy list of sleep-related ads on my social media feed.

One I saw repeatedly was the Calm app. Every ad looked amazing, and the reviews left no room for doubt. I fell for it. It didn’t take much really. Weeks of getting a total of 3 hours of fairly solid sleep were taking their toll. I would try anything.

Just as the ads promised, Calm is a stunning collection of meditations, music, soundscapes, and stories. Each and every selection within the app is appealing in its own way. I didn’t find a single selection that wasn’t soothing and effective in calming my nerves and inducing drowsiness. In fact, the first night I tried a bedtime story, I was asleep before I reached the halfway point, and I woke up hours later with my phone beside my pillow. The nights following were much the same. It seemed as if I had found my solution after all.

Affordable alternative to the Calm app

I knew going into my experience with Calm that I wasn’t going to pay for a subscription. A tiny part of my sleepy soul died when I canceled my plan after the trial period.

Isn’t that always the way? The great stuff offers free trials, hooks you, and those all-too-convenient automatic payments start. Before making the pricey commitment, I wanted to see if there were any similar services and, ideally, free ones.

My search revealed several other options for apps that offered sleep meditations and stories, but most of them cost as much as Calm. Almost every 1 gives users a nice weeklong trial to get settled in before the costly ball drops. However, the teacher in me was determined to find a great alternative for free.

A free app?

I found it!

Insight Timer is free, and contains a vast list of choices, all comparable to Calm’s menu. It has fantastic free bedtime stories read in soothing voices with a monotone that induces drowsiness lasting anywhere from 20 to 80 minutes.

Also, Insight Timer offers free music, meditations, soundscapes, and sleep help for parents. The free list of choices is lengthy and offers little chance of repeating tracks. I have been using the free app for 2 weeks and have yet to repeat a story.

Did I mention that Insight Timer is free?

Options to upgrade, if needed

Like all the others I scanned, it does have a premium subscription option if you would like more in-depth meditation instruction, workshops, or mentoring. I am more than satisfied with the free version and will definitely stick with it.

My sleep is far from perfect, but the bedtime tales are helping me drift off fairly quickly. This is something I haven’t been able to do in months. It pays to spend time searching for alternatives. In this case, it’s made a difference in not only my bank account but my anxiety and sleep. That’s a win-win if I’ve ever seen one.

Do you have a tip for getting better sleep? Please share a comment.