nitali sharma a corporate executive from andheri found it tough to fall sleep in the early days of the lockdown she took up something that helped her relax and get the right amount of shuteye and no it wasnt lavender tea or buying blackout curtains she just switched on her phone grabbed the headphones and listened to the pleasant notes of rustling grass and lightly falling rain i heard about these sleep apps from a friend at first i thought id give it a shot to see if it worked and it did as i lie down i love listening to these slow sounds it helps me push away the days worries many like her have been into these sleep or meditation apps to feel calmer especially over the last few months they promise to ease stress as you hear the sounds of nature or soothing music and some track your sleep cycle by measuring the time between your sleep and wakeup state the apps even have a guided voice that slowly seeks to banish any stress you may feelwhat its about guided meditations include both audio and video the aim to tune the mind with the body and build focus which in turn builds resiliencewhat you will get voice meditation experts breathwork guides where you find the rhythm of your breath long short deep listening to music instruments apps with sounds of nature like rain waves wind blowing or a warm crackling fire