About Us - Best Sleep Times | Our Mission and Story

Learn about Best Sleep Times, our mission to help people optimize their sleep through science-backed tools and education. Discover our story and commitment to better sleep health.

About Best Sleep Times

Helping millions achieve better sleep through science-backed tools and education

Our Mission

At Best Sleep Times, we believe that quality sleep is the foundation of a healthy, productive, and fulfilling life. Our mission is to democratize access to sleep science knowledge and provide free, easy-to-use tools that help anyone optimize their sleep schedule based on proven circadian rhythm research and sleep cycle theory.

Sleep deprivation has become an epidemic in modern society. Studies show that over 35% of adults don't get the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep per night, leading to serious health consequences including increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, depression, and cognitive decline. We created Best Sleep Times to address this crisis by making sleep optimization accessible to everyone, completely free of charge.

The Science Behind Our Approach

Our sleep cycle calculator is built on decades of sleep research, particularly the groundbreaking discoveries about REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep and the architecture of sleep stages. Sleep scientists have established that sleep occurs in approximately 90-minute cycles, each containing distinct stages that serve different biological purposes.

The key insight that drives our calculator is this: waking up at the end of a complete sleep cycle, rather than in the middle of one, dramatically reduces sleep inertia (that groggy feeling when you wake up) and helps you feel more refreshed and alert. This is why someone might feel more rested after 7.5 hours of sleep (5 complete cycles) than after 8 hours (waking mid-cycle).

Our algorithms incorporate the average time it takes to fall asleep (approximately 15 minutes for most people), the 90-minute cycle duration, and your specific schedule needs to calculate optimal bedtimes and wake times. We provide multiple options because individual sleep needs vary – while most adults need 7-9 hours (5-6 cycles), some may function optimally with 4-5 cycles or need 6-7 cycles.

Our Story

Best Sleep Times was founded by a team of developers, designers, and sleep health advocates who personally experienced the transformative power of optimizing sleep cycles. After discovering the 90-minute sleep cycle principle and implementing it in our own lives, we experienced remarkable improvements in morning alertness, daytime energy, mood stability, and cognitive performance.

We realized that while this knowledge has been available in academic circles for decades, it remained largely unknown to the general public. Existing sleep apps were often expensive, complicated, required wearable devices, or focused on tracking rather than practical scheduling tools. We saw an opportunity to create something different: a simple, free, instant calculator that anyone could use without downloading apps, creating accounts, or purchasing special equipment.

Since launching, we've helped over a million people calculate their optimal sleep times. Users consistently report feeling more refreshed upon waking, improved morning mood, better daytime energy, and enhanced productivity. These testimonials drive us to continue improving our tools and expanding our educational content.

What We Offer

Sleep Cycle Calculator: Our flagship tool that calculates optimal sleep and wake times based on 90-minute sleep cycles, helping you wake between cycles instead of during deep sleep.
Educational Content: Comprehensive articles and guides about sleep science, circadian rhythms, sleep hygiene, and evidence-based strategies for improving sleep quality.
Additional Sleep Tools: We're continuously developing new features including nap timers, sleep efficiency calculators, routine generators, and tracking tools to support your sleep optimization journey.
Sleep Health Resources: FAQs, tips, facts, and science-backed advice to help you understand and improve every aspect of your sleep health.

Our Commitment to Quality and Privacy

We take our responsibility to users seriously. Our calculator provides scientifically accurate recommendations based on established sleep research. We regularly review and update our content to reflect the latest sleep science findings and expert guidance.

Privacy is paramount to us. We don't require registration, don't collect personal information, and don't sell user data. Our calculator works entirely in your browser, and any data stored (like recent calculations) remains on your device. We use minimal analytics to understand how users interact with our site and improve our service, but this data is anonymized and aggregated.

We monetize our service through non-intrusive advertising to keep our tools completely free for everyone. We carefully select ad partners and maintain editorial independence – our content and recommendations are never influenced by advertisers or commercial relationships.

Evidence-Based Approach

Every recommendation and piece of information on Best Sleep Times is grounded in peer-reviewed scientific research. The 90-minute sleep cycle concept is derived from extensive polysomnographic studies (sleep laboratory research) conducted over many decades. Our educational content draws from reputable sources including:

Sleep research published in leading scientific journals
Guidelines from the National Sleep Foundation and American Academy of Sleep Medicine
Expert consensus statements from sleep medicine professionals
Long-term population studies on sleep duration and health outcomes
Clinical research on circadian rhythms and sleep disorders

While we present this information in accessible language for general audiences, we maintain scientific accuracy and regularly fact-check our content against current medical literature.

Our Values

Accessibility: Sleep health tools should be available to everyone, regardless of income. We will always offer free core tools.
Scientific Integrity: All our content and calculations are based on peer-reviewed research and expert medical guidance.
User Privacy: We respect user privacy and will never sell personal data or require unnecessary information collection.
Simplicity: Complex science should be made simple and actionable. Our tools are designed to be intuitive and provide instant, practical results.
Education: We believe in empowering users with knowledge, not just tools. Understanding the "why" behind sleep optimization helps people make better decisions.
Continuous Improvement: We actively seek user feedback and continuously refine our tools and content based on user needs and emerging research.

Looking Forward

Sleep science continues to evolve, and we're committed to evolving with it. We're actively developing new features including personalized sleep recommendations based on age and lifestyle factors, advanced tracking capabilities, integration with popular calendar apps, and expanded educational content covering specialized topics like shift work sleep disorders, jet lag management, and sleep optimization for athletes.

We're also working to expand our reach through partnerships with health organizations, educational institutions, and workplace wellness programs. Our vision is a world where everyone has the knowledge and tools to achieve optimal sleep health, leading to healthier, more productive, and happier lives.

Join Our Community

Best Sleep Times is more than just a calculator – it's a community of people committed to better sleep health. We encourage users to share their experiences, ask questions, and provide feedback. Your input helps us improve our service and better serve the millions of people seeking better sleep.

Whether you're struggling with chronic sleep deprivation, trying to optimize your performance, adjusting to a new schedule, or simply curious about sleep science, we're here to help. Use our calculator regularly, explore our educational content, and discover how proper sleep timing can transform your life.

Contact Us

We welcome your questions, feedback, and suggestions. If you have sleep health questions, need technical support, want to report an issue, or simply want to share your sleep optimization success story, please visit our contact page .

For media inquiries, partnership opportunities, or professional collaboration, please reach out through our contact form with details about your inquiry.

While our calculator is based on sound science and has helped millions, everyone's sleep needs are unique. If you have persistent sleep problems, excessive daytime sleepiness, loud snoring, or other sleep concerns, please consult a healthcare provider or sleep specialist. Our tools are designed to complement, not replace, professional medical advice.

Thank you for trusting Best Sleep Times with your sleep health journey. Here's to better sleep and brighter days ahead!