The Apollo Wearable Can Help You Sleep Better & Stress Less

If the start of the new year has you looking for ways to stress less, sleep more, and improve your focus, the Apollo wearable is an innovative tool that promises to take “good vibes only” to a whole new level.

Backed by scientific research and put to the test in clinical and real-world evaluations, the Apollo sets itself apart from other health wearables by not only monitoring health metrics but aiming to fortify your nervous system with just the touch of a button. Here’s everything you should know about how it works and if it might be helpful for you.

What Is The Apollo Wearable?

Designed by a collective of neuroscientists and physicians, the Apollo is a wearable device that leverages your sense of touch to help improve your emotional state over time with consistent use. It emits soothing vibrations that are meant to signal your nervous system to relax, so you can move away from stress responses into a state of calmness and clarity. And it’s controllable through the Apollo Neuro app (or via your Apple Watch, if you have one).

How Does The Apollo Work?

As lightweight as a watch, the Apollo can be worn on your wrist or ankle — or clipped under clothes for those who prefer a more concealed option. The device’s vibration technology is designed to interrupt the body's stress-induced “fight or flight” mode, steering it toward a more peaceful “rest and digest” state. Described by the brand as a “wearable hug,” the Apollo is meant to offer increased benefits with regular use, training your body to respond to stress with greater resilience.

Once you put on this wearable, you can choose from seven different “Apollo Vibes” modes to help guide how you want to feel throughout the day. These modes are based around boosting energy, focusing your attention, socializing, recovering post-workout or after a high-stress situation, calming your nerves, unwinding at the end of the day, and falling asleep.

Wearing the Apollo at least three hours a day, five days a week can offer benefits similar to mindfulness practices, such as meditation or breath work. The underlying principle of this technology is entrenched in the connection between tactile sensation and emotional health. Similar to the effects of a soothing massage, the gentle vibrations from the Apollo activate touch receptors that are key to triggering emotions or a positive mental state. This, in turn, can help enhance overall health by contributing to improvements in areas such as sleep quality and physical performance.

The wearable can enhance sleep by helping you unwind before bed or improve focus when you need to hunker down on a work project or tackle a chore list. After selecting a mode, you then choose how long you want it to run, with options from 15 to 60 minutes, and you can also adjust the intensity to your comfort level. The gentlest setting is almost imperceptible, according to the brand.

Experimenting with the various modes allows you to discover which ones best fit your needs and daily routine. Pairing the device with the free Apollo Neuro app lets you track and gain insights into your overall wellness through metrics like sleep quality and resting heart rate. Through the app, you can also create a schedule of different vibration modes or cue one up in real time.

The Science Behind Apollo

The technology for the wearable originated from Dr. David Rabin, MD, Ph.D., during his research in neuroscience and psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh. Known as “Dr. Dave,” Rabin developed the wearable based on 15 years of research exploring how chronic stress impacts the human body.

The science that underpins the Apollo wearable has been tested through clinical trials conducted by the company. The findings from seven completed clinical trials and 14 ongoing trials show that those who use the wearable regularly have seen, on average, a 19% increase in deep sleep, a 14% increase in REM sleep, a 40% reduction in stress and anxiety, an 11% improvement in heart rate variability (HRV), and up to a 25% boost in focus and concentration.

According to the brand, the Apollo is safe to use for adults and even kids — but, of course, you should always check in with your doctor if you have any health concerns or experience sudden changes in sleep quality or anxiety.

The Apollo wearable could be the comprehensive daily tool you’ve been looking for to help manage stress, sleep better, and focus in on those important projects. Using it in conjunction with other mindfulness and wellness rituals could be an effective way to help keep those New Year’s wellness resolutions going.