Rise Science

We're thrilled to officially announce the launch of RISE — the first energy management app that gives you the tools you need to get the most out of each and every day — alongside $15.5M in funding to date. The new funds will be used to build RISE into a more reliable solution for better sleep for better days as well as to make the guidance on what will actually impact how you feel every day more personalized and easier to access. We're so grateful to everyone who has joined us on this mission so far. To our investors, our employees past and present, and most importantly, our customers — the heartbeat of our business. There are many ways to reach your potential, but the one truth is that our sleep is the foundation of our wellbeing. Without it, there's no way to be anywhere close to your best self. Thanks for being on the journey with us to live better and get more out of every day.

We're honored to be named one of 2024's fastest-growing apps by Similarweb! Thank you to our RISE community for trusting us to help you enjoy brighter mornings and better days 🌟

Belated New Year greetings from us at RISE, with a quick plug for sleep when it comes to reaching our 2025 goals! Here are a few common New Year’s resolutions and the surprising ways sleep can help (or hinder) our progress. Exercise More When we’re sleep deprived, we have less energy to exercise, of course. But that’s not all. Not getting enough sleep can: 🏃🏻♂️ Increase risk of injury and illness: Our reaction times, coordination, concentration, decision-making, and immune system can take a hit. 💪 Lower performance: We reach physical failure faster when sleep deprived. Skill-based performance suffers more than endurance and strength, but we won’t be at our best in general. ⚡ Increase rate of perceived exertion (RPE): This makes exercise feel harder. We feel pain more acutely when sleep deprived, too. 🛌 Impair muscle growth and recovery: We make human growth hormone (HGH) when we sleep, which helps with muscle restoration. Less sleep = less HGH = less recovery and fewer gains. Eat Healthier For those of us who want to make healthier food choices in 2025, we need to start with a good night’s sleep. If we’re skimping on sleep, we can experience: 🍎 More hunger: We have more ghrelin (the hunger hormone) and less leptin (the satiety hormone), spiking our appetites. 🍩 More food cravings: A lack of sleep heightens our endocannabinoid systems, which can cause cravings for high-calorie foods. Our brain’s prefrontal cortex is also impaired, decreasing self-control and the ability to resist those foods. 📈 More weight gain: People tend to eat an extra 385 calories the day after a night of short sleep. And sleep deprivation can lead to insulin resistance, which can cause weight gain (especially around the belly), obesity, and type 2 diabetes. Improve Time Management Managing our energy, not just our time, can make a real difference to how much we get done each day. Some actionable tips include: 🚀 Lower sleep debt and get in circadian alignment: Reducing sleep debt gives us more energy, motivation, and cognitive power, and syncing up with our circadian rhythms improves energy and self-regulatory resources (i.e., less procrastination). It also keeps energy peaks and dips at regular times, so we can plan our weeks ahead of time. 📊 Protect energy peaks: We have more energy, attention, accuracy, and emotional regulation during these times. Schedule deep work, important meetings, decision-making, and analytical or strategic tasks. ☀️ Hack energy dips: Chip away at sleep debt with a nap, get outside for sunlight and exercise, or tick off easy admin tasks. Perhaps surprisingly, we may perform better on tasks that need creativity and insight during energy dips. Think brainstorming ad campaigns or big-picture business planning. 👉 Use RISE to lower your sleep debt, sync up with your circadian rhythm, and see when your energy peaks and dips are coming each day. Here’s to better sleep, more energy, and hitting our goals in 2025 — whatever they are.

We’re proud to be part of this incredible movement with Wellhub, partnering with a team that shares our mission to help everyone be happier, healthier, and accomplish what matters most to them. 💜💪

https://lnkd.in/eJMrwErT

Tame your inner night owl 🦉(if it’s not working for you and an earlier schedule would be better). (And even for those with the flexibility of later schedules who feel it’s working, a night owl orientation is often the result of habit and ill-timed light exposure. Shifting earlier to align with the natural light/dark cycle can actually help many feel better and be more productive!) https://lnkd.in/eKcPXvdf

🎁 Last-Minute Holiday Gift Guide: Sleep & Energy Boosters Forgot someone on your list? Or maybe you're that person doing all their shopping at the eleventh hour? Don't worry—we've got you. At RISE, we know there's no better gift than better sleep. Luckily, as we write this, some of our favorite sleep and energy-boosting products are still available on Amazon with 2-day shipping. (And, even if they arrive a little late, low sleep debt is a gift that lasts all year). So, here’s a quick roundup of evidence-backed picks from our expert-recommended gift guide (sent in an email to our list a couple of weeks ago). If you’d like regular sleep and energy-boosting insights in your inbox, drop your email in the comments and we’ll add you to the list. ✨ 🕶️ Ostrich Pillow Eye Mask – Ergonomic and light-proof. Ideal for light-sensitive sleepers: https://bit.ly/3P8Dsfq 🐻 ALASKA BEAR Eye Mask – Budget-friendly, breathable, and blocks light better than most: http://bit.ly/4gNqwHD 😎 Uvex Blue Light Blockers – Amber-tinted glasses comfortable enough to actually wear: https://bit.ly/49O7Y7M 🌅 Sunrise Alarm Clock to gently mimic daylight, making mornings feel a little easier: https://bit.ly/49TJzOu ☀️ Carex Day-Light Therapy Lamp – Highly reviewed and sleek. Helps boost mood and energy when sunlight is in short supply: https://bit.ly/4gE2f76. 🛋️ Sengled Smart Bulb – Dims to orange/red for a smoother wind-down at night and brightens like sunrise in the morning: https://bit.ly/3P8nLF7 🎧 MUSICOZY Headband – White noise + Bluetooth = easier sleep: https://bit.ly/4gLVZds 👂 Mack's Ear Plugs – Affordable, effective, and comfortable enough to sleep with nightly: https://bit.ly/4iMj9SK 🥄 Thorne supplements – Trusted for high-quality magnesium, melatonin, and more: https://bit.ly/3Dm681R. 🛏️ Hullo Buckwheat Pillow – Firm, moldable support for side sleepers and neck pain: https://bit.ly/4gE1mLE 🧠 Memory Foam Contour Pillow – Keeps your neck aligned to prevent morning aches: https://bit.ly/3ZOzVrN 🎁 And for the easiest, most impactful gift of all—RISE! RISE users can give friends and family a head start on their New Year's resolutions by sending them a free 30-day trial from the Gift Referral screen in your app. Happy gifting—and even happier days for everyone on your list! 💤

As many of us prepare to slip into a post-Thanksgiving food coma and automatically point fingers at the turkey, we’re here to set the record straight. Turkey may get the blame for your post-Thanksgiving dinner drowsiness, but it’s only part of the story. While turkey contains tryptophan—an amino acid that converts into serotonin and melatonin—a typical serving (2–3 ounces) falls far short of the amount needed (1 gram) to impact sleep meaningfully. You’d need to eat 10+ ounces of turkey to see significant effects. Other factors are likely to be the real culprits:   😴 Overeating, especially high-calorie or high-carb meals, can divert blood flow from the brain to the small intestine, making you feel sluggish.  😴 Hormones like cholecystokinin, released during digestion, can add to this drowsiness.  😴 High blood sugar from a rich meal may also play a role, as elevated levels can block wakefulness-promoting neurons, followed by a sugar crash that leaves you low on energy. 😴 Timing matters, too. Eating right before your regular energy dip can make you feel even more tired, and the same goes for sleep debt.  😴 Other factors, like an alcoholic drink with your meal, food sensitivities (like gluten intolerance), or underlying health conditions such as diabetes, anemia, or hypothyroidism, can also contribute to post-meal fatigue. There’s also something to keep in mind: sleep and nutrition studies are inherently tricky. Little research exists on the best foods for sleep (most studies focus on overall dietary patterns rather than specific foods), and the research we do have isn’t conclusive. When specific foods are studied, the findings often come with caveats: small sample sizes, self-reported data, or a focus on groups with unique health conditions, making it unclear if these results apply broadly. It’s also tough to isolate how one food impacts sleep—other factors like digestion, metabolism, and even lifestyle habits (like exercise or avoiding processed foods) play a role. Healthy eaters often sleep better, but this could be due to their overall habits, not just what’s on their plate. In some cases, the foods touted for better sleep (turkey! cherries! kiwis!) would need to be consumed in impractical quantities to have any real impact. Instead of chasing “sleep superfoods” (or villainizing others), focus on a balanced diet that supports your overall health and consistent sleep habits. These foundational changes can make a bigger, more sustainable impact on your sleep quality. 💤 Happy Thanksgiving to those celebrating! 🍂

We're grateful for the time we had together in person at our team off-site and freshly energized to continue our mission of giving everyone better days 🙌 Look out for exciting product additions from our AI hackathon! 😉 💤 (And for everyone keeping sleep hygiene tabs, the drinks were enjoyed well outside the recommended 3–4 hour cutoff, though we acknowledge that 6+ hours—or ideally, no alcohol at all—is best! 🙃)

If last week's late nights and the ongoing adjustment to the end of DST have thrown your sleep schedule off track, there are a few proven strategies to reset, pay back sleep debt, and get your energy back. To wake up and fall asleep earlier: - Make small adjustments. Gradually shift your morning light exposure earlier as you move your wake time earlier. Your body clock can only shift by 15–30 minutes each day, so don’t try to jump all at once. Moving too quickly can lead to sleep loss, making it harder to reset your schedule. - Get outside in sunlight as soon as possible after waking to reset your circadian rhythm. This will help you feel more awake during the day and sleepier at night. Spend 10 minutes in natural light (or 15–20 minutes if it’s overcast or through a window). - If it’s dark when you wake up, use a 10,000 lux light therapy lamp for 30 minutes in the morning, sitting 16–24 inches away. (Light therapy lamps also help with Seasonal Affective Disorder, which unfortunately crops up for many this time of year.) - Most of us know about the importance of morning sunlight, but light is powerful during the day, too. The more light you get during the day (especially sunlight), the less sensitive you’ll be to light in the evenings (so the less it can disrupt your circadian rhythm and push back your sleep schedule). Try working by a window, spending your lunch break outside, and going for a walk after work. - Shift your evening routine in tandem with your morning adjustments. As you move your morning light exposure earlier, start winding down for sleep earlier too. Dim the lights, put on your blue light-blocking glasses, and find ways to relax. Temperature can be a powerful tool in your bedtime routine, especially during schedule shifts. Take a warm bath or shower, or if you have access, use a sauna. The initial warmth raises your core body temperature, but the cooling that follows helps you fall asleep more easily. Finally, keep your bedroom cool (62°F–68°F) for optimal sleep throughout the night. - Shift your meal and exercise times by the same amount and in the same direction to help your body adjust faster. (Try to stay active, even if you’re feeling sluggish. Exercise is great for improving both falling asleep and staying asleep.) The same applies to daily routines and social interactions. Believe it or not, social cues like conversations, work schedules, and family activities play a key role in regulating your circadian rhythm, especially when light exposure is limited, such as during winter months or shift work. - Once you’ve reached your ideal sleep schedule, consistency is key. Aim to wake up and go to bed at roughly the same times each day. Of course, life — especially during the holidays — doesn’t always cooperate. That’s where RISE can help. Whether you’re shifting your sleep schedule or trying to make the most of the energy you have, RISE will help you feel your best, no matter the season.