This post is sponsored by Apollo Neuro, but all of the opinions within are those of The Everygirl editorial board.
I used to think that having it all looked like having the perfect house, career, wardrobe, relationships, and social circle, but the older I’ve gotten, the more I’ve realized that having it all, at least to me, looks a lot more like getting quality sleep, checking off the priorities on my to-do list, squeezing in self-care, relaxing with my loved ones, and getting through the majority of days without a menty-b. But that’s the thing with having it all—you can’t actually have it all, at least not all at the same time. It’s taken me years to hone in on the practices and techniques that help me achieve my goals, feel grounded, and take care of myself from the inside out.
But even still, it can feel almost impossible to keep up with it all day after day. TBH, I’m lucky if I can fit in meditation before work, and I’m even luckier if I follow my nighttime routine strictly enough to actually sleep through the night. The harsh reality is that sometimes when you try to do it all in order to “have it all,” you end up with an exhausting, never-ending list of to-do’s and rituals and routines that stress you out more than they help you.
After years of running myself nearly into the ground trying to find solutions to all my woes (namely staying focused enough to get all my work done on time and falling asleep at a decent hour so I’m not exhausted day after day), I decided I would finally extend my hand out for a little help. I went on the lookout for something that could help me feel my best and improve my energy, and in doing that, I was blessed to stumble upon Apollo Neuro’s Apollo wearable. Ahead, I am sharing my Apollo Neuro review so that if you too are looking for ways that you can stay grounded in your wellness routine and discover your full potential, you have all the information you need.
What is the Apollo Wearable?
The Apollo wearable was developed by neuroscientists and physicians to calm your body and clear your mind. Rather than tracking your health like an Apple Watch or an Oura Ring, the Apollo wearable is proven to actively improve it through the delivery of soothing vibrations, called Apollo Vibes. High vibrations are used to help improve your energy and focus, while lower vibrations can help to reduce stress and help you relax. So depending on what you need throughout the day, you can use it to give you energy in the morning, help you focus during work, help you have deeper relaxation and calm during a workout, and help you fall asleep and stay asleep. And the best part? The Apollo wearable can be worn as a band on your wrist or ankle or as a clip attached to your clothing on a shirt collar, bra strap, or waistband, making it unobtrusive and easy to use, anytime, anywhere.
How does it work?
Before I looked into the science of the Apollo wearable, I thought the idea of vibrations to help me in my day-to-day life sounded a little woo-woo, but the research is impressive. The gentle vibrations are actually low-frequency sound waves that help improve the balance of our nervous systems through our sense of touch. For example, when we are feeling stressed, the sympathetic (fight-or-flight) branch of our nervous system is activated. That stress response leaves us feeling tired, distracted, and overwhelmed and makes it difficult to sleep. The Apollo wearable works by signaling safety to the body through your sense of touch, restoring balance to the nervous system.
Every single Apollo Vibe, whether it is designed to increase wakefulness or to help you fall asleep, is designed to restore your body, improve heart rate variability, and put you back in control of how you want to feel. All controlled by a simple yet intuitive app, you can deliver the appropriate Apollo Vibe based on how you are feeling (like nervous, creative, or motivated) or by what you are doing (like speaking in a meeting, driving to an appointment, or pushing through a workout class) on-demand or on a set schedule.
Because we know that change doesn’t happen overnight and a regular routine will always get the best results, you can create your own schedule or fill out a quiz to get a custom schedule of Apollo Vibes that play throughout your day and night to maximize your energy levels, sleep, and overall well-being. For example, if you struggle with an afternoon slump around 3 p.m. every day, you can set your wearable to deliver Focus Vibes at that time. Similarly, during the time you typically get ready for bed, you can set your wearable to deliver Unwind Vibes. Choose to keep the schedule the same (we love a set-it-and-forget-it moment) or change your schedule depending on what your day or week has in store for you.
My experience using the Apollo wearable
Because Apollo Neuro recommends using the Apollo wearable for at least three hours a day, five days a week for best results, I started by choosing three Apollo Vibes to each be delivered once a day for an hour. It was hard to choose which ones I wanted to experiment with first, but I focused on the areas where I needed help the most: focusing during work, feeling more energy in the afternoon, and unwinding before bed. Ahead, I’m sharing my full Apollo Neuro review:
More consistent energy
I am truly jealous of anyone who can drink a 3 p.m. coffee or matcha to offset their mid-day slump because any caffeine after lunchtime for me means I’m not going to bed until midnight. And let me tell you, being left to my own devices to get through the afternoon is, well, hardly efficient. If you’re with me, this is where Energy Vibes comes in to save the day. In the Apollo app, it says that you can use this Vibe during “boring meetings” and “when seeking espresso,” and to that, I say TYSM. I set this on my schedule during the workweek for 2:30 p.m., which is right before I usually see a plummet in my ability to do basically anything. I thought the first few days were just a fluke, but after about a week or so of not feeling tired or sluggish during the afternoon, my productivity levels were forever changed. I was able to finish the tasks I was working on (which is a miracle considering what I said earlier about my inability to focus), and I even got ahead for the next day a few times. Who even is she?! An energized queen.
Increased focus
Focusing on just about anything has never been my strong suit—I will find just about anything to distract myself until the very last minute when I actually need to get something done—but I’m well aware that especially at work, this is a not-so-great quality. Since I’ve tried and failed at just about every productivity hack out there to help me stay focused (sorry, Pomodoro), I didn’t have high hopes that Focus Vibes would actually help a serial procrastinator like me. But let me tell you, setting Focus Vibes when you’re getting your day started is a total game-changer. It completely filters out distractions for a clear, calm focus so you’re able to make a to-do list and actually start checking things off of it without ending up on TikTok. I set this for an hour to start my workday at a pretty high intensity, and I saw improvements right away.
Calmer evenings
I have my morning routine down to a science; I know exactly what I need to do to get up and start my day off on the right track. But my nighttime routine? I feel like I have been trying and failing at nailing one down for years. My sad version of winding down is laying in bed scrolling TikTok until my eyes can’t stay open anymore and then eventually putting my phone down, rolling side to side until I get comfortable, and eventually passing out. I’m always exhausted but never relaxed—which is a recipe for terrible sleep. I knew I wanted to try out the Unwind Vibes as soon as I read that it would offer “deep relaxation” before bed. The vibrations gave me the same relaxed feeling that I feel on the nights I actually read instead of scroll—meaning, I feel way more calm, comfortable, and relaxed—and I don’t stay up nearly as long, which has made a huge difference in my nighttime routine and quality of sleep.
The verdict
Adding the Apollo wearable into my day-to-day life has been seamless, which has made every part of my day from morning until night a little bit easier. Of course, I never expect to be on top of my game every single day (I’m only human), but it’s so nice to know that I have the wearable to rely on when I need it the most. With the help of the right vibes and schedule, I have seen a shift in my energy levels and focus, allowing me to tackle my to-dos with ease, and I’m so excited to incorporate even more vibes into my routine to help me feel more in control of my wellness goals!
This post is sponsored by Apollo Neuro but all of the opinions within are those of The Everygirl editorial board.
