This Hidden iPhone Hack Has Been Helping Me Sleep for the Last 5 Years

I've spent most of my life trying to get more quality sleep. As a wellness editor, I'm always on the lookout for new tips and tricks that are accessible, actually work, and might make life easier for anyone who wants to improve their health. Recently, I realized that one iPhone feature has been the biggest impact on my sleep in years.

The first thing that came to mind was the iPhone's Background Sounds feature, which I've been using for over five years. This hidden hack has become an essential tool for me, and it's something that I couldn't imagine sleeping without – literally. It's basically a built-in white noise machine that can be accessed from my iPhone's Control Center.

The Background Sounds feature offers a range of ambient soundscapes to help you relax or focus. These include ocean waves (my personal favorite), rain, stream, night sounds, balanced noise, bright noise, and dark noise. You can enable the feature to play all the time, even when other media is playing, and adjust the volume accordingly.

To access Background Sounds on your iPhone, you'll need iOS 15 or later. First, swipe down from your screen's top-right corner, then tap the "+" symbol at the top left and "Add a Control" at the bottom. Scroll down to the Hearing Accessibility section and click "Background Sounds." You can also search for it in the bar at the top.

Once you've added Background Sounds to your Control Center, hold down the icon with three music notes to select your sound and adjust the volume. I love using the ocean sound – its steady volume and repetitive waves create a soothing atmosphere that helps me drift off to sleep.

But Background Sounds isn't just for relaxation; it's also a lifesaver when traveling or in noisy environments. I've used it to drown out everything from loud music to buzzing streetlamps, thanks to the feature's ability to play all the time, even when other media is playing.

One potential issue with Background Sounds is that it can be unreliable at times. I used to have an emergency calling feature set up, but it didn't work as intended – the sound would stop playing and wake me up during scam calls. To avoid this, I silenced all calls during Sleep mode and told my emergency contacts to reach out to my partner instead.

Despite this hiccup, Background Sounds has been a game-changer for me, especially when I'm traveling or in unfamiliar environments. It's like having a mini white noise machine in your pocket at all times – because who knows when or where you'll need it? With its endless sound options and convenience features, Background Sounds is an iPhone hack that I couldn't imagine living without.

So if you're struggling to sleep or just want to find ways to relax and focus better, give Background Sounds a try. It's easy to access, and it might just be the answer to your sleep prayers – like it has been for me for over five years now.