The bedtime stories for ADULTS: ‘Sleep Stories’ mix soothing words with sound-effects to help you drift off

First there were colouring books to help adults overcome stress.

But now there are bedtime stories aimed at grownups – designed as a natural sleeping aid.

Launched in the UK last month, Sleep Stories mix soothing words, music and sound-effects to help listeners wind down and drift off.

Created by Calm, the popular meditation app, users can gain access to 23 tales which are narrated by a host of celebrities.

Lasting for between 20 to 30 minutes, some experts believe they will become the next big thing in the world of mindfulness.

Created by Calm , the popular meditation app, adults can gain access to 23 tales which are narrated by a host of celebrities to help them drift off

They include both original tales, devised by mindfulness experts, and slow-tempo recitals from classic children’s novels.

Such tales include The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Anderson and The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams.

They are read by actors such as Anna Acton, known for her roles in Doctors, Casualty and EastEnders. 

One of the available stories is actually a talk on sleep science and advice by Dr Steve Orma, a specialist in treating insomnia based in San Francisco.

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He said: ‘There’s a paradox to sleep, in that it comes when you’re not trying. 

‘When you try to sleep, your mind monitors your efforts, which then keeps you awake. Instead, have the intention of relaxing and letting go.

‘The first step in getting good night’s sleep is being in the right mindset. If you’re tired, relaxed and ready for sleep you will automatically fall asleep after 10 to 20 minutes. 

‘This is why doing something calming before bed will help prepare you for sleep. 

Lasting for between 20 to 30 minutes, some experts believe the tales will become the next big thing in the world of mindfulness

‘This can be meditation, reading or now listening to a ‘Sleep Story’, designed to help you let go and ease into a peaceful slumber.’

Calm, which was created by two British entrepreneurs, has been downloaded by six million users to date.

And its co-founders both believe that difficulty sleeping is a modern epidemic – known to increase the risk of both dementia and diabetes. 

One of them, Michael Acton-Smith, said: ‘We also know that wanting to sleep better is one of the main reasons people use Calm.

‘It therefore made sense for Calm to develop a new feature designed to help users do so.

‘To prepare for sleep we need to transition from the hustle and bustle of the day to the calm of the evening.’

And he says by creating a ‘transition time’, allowing the minds to unwind instead of being stimulated through TV, emails and Facebook, helps.

Alex Tew, the other co-founder, said: ‘Remember when you were young how much you enjoyed listening to a bedtime story.

‘It was comforting, relaxing and soothing.’ Well, think of sleep stories as the adult equivalent.

‘When you’re a child, you have much less on your mind and sleep comes easily. 

‘Sleep Stories are meant to take you back to a simpler mental state and let your brain relax and prepare for a deep rest, just as it did when you were young.’ 

The National Sleep Foundation advise adults to get between seven and nine hours kip each night.

However, a study in October showed that Britain is the most sleep-deprived nation in the world – with 37 per cent of adults claiming to not get enough.  

‘THEY HELPED ME DRIFT OFF TO SLEEP’

Name: Katherine Vines

Age: 28

Lives: Rossendale Valley, Lancashire

Occupation: Speech Therapist

Ms Vines said: ‘During times of change or periods of stress I would experience insomnia. 

‘I liked the idea of the Sleep Stories app and thought it was worth trying.

‘I was impressed with the range of stories to choose from. 

‘I had a preference for fiction and in particular liked listening to The Velveteen Rabbit. 

‘I found the stories soothing and the whole experience very relaxing, I noticed that the calming narratives gave something for my racing mind to focus on, which meant that I actually fell asleep before the end of the story.

‘I really liked the calming visuals and the fact the voice-overs were set at a relaxed pace. 

‘I didn’t feel that the stories were too short, so I didn’t feel on edge that they were about to finish, which gave me enough time to drift off to sleep.’