A simple-to-use iPhone function could well help you get a decent night's sleep, even if the recent hot weather has left you tossing and turning.
Getting a good night's kip is vitally important for your health and well-being, but all too often drifting off can feel like an impossible task.
Luckily, the solution you're looking for could lie inside your phone, and you won't need to spend so much as a penny to give it a whirl for yourself.
Those who suffer from sleepless nights will often invest in a white noise machine - a device that helps drown out any distracting sounds while soothing the listener with calming noises instead.
Many won't be aware however that they may already be holding a mini white noise machine in the palm of their hand - built into their iPhone.
If you own iPhone 6S or a more recent version, as long as your software is all up to date, those running on iOS 15 or later have an in-built white noise feature built-in.
To access it, all you'll have to do is head your 'Settings', before scrolling down and pressing 'Accessibility'. You'll then need to click 'Audio/Visual', which will then bring up 'Background Sounds' option.
As explained in an Apple Support YouTube tutorial, you'll then need to turn Background Sounds on. The default sound 'Rain' will then immediately start playing, but you can choose the sound that best suits you from the 'Sound Menu'.
Alternative options include, 'Balanced Noise', 'Bright Noise', 'Dark Noise', 'Ocean', and 'Stream'. You can also easily adjust the volume according to preference, using the slider.
Popular white noise machines from the likes of Lumie can set you back more than £220, and while there are cheaper options on the market, it's worth trying Apple's in-build setting to see if it can help first.
According to the Sleep Foundation, one study found that adults fell asleep 38 per cent faster when listening to white noise, while other recent studies have also noticed the notably positive effect white noise can have on a person's sleep.
Dr. David Neubauer, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioural sciences, told the HuffPost: "The key feature of the sound devices is the constant sound in contrast to changing sounds like with music, radio, and television.
"Our brains pay attention to changing sound, but a comfortable constant sound can help lull us to sleep."
Do you have a sleep-related story to share? Email us at julia.banim@reachplc.com
