About SleepCycle.tools
A solo project by Martin Holy to help people optimize their sleep through science-backed tools
My Story
Hi! I'm Martin Holy, the creator and sole developer of SleepCycle.tools. This project began in early 2023 when I was struggling with chronic insomnia and sleep disruption. After researching sleep science and discovering the importance of aligning wake-up times with natural sleep cycles, I created a simple tool for my personal use.
What started as a personal project quickly grew as friends and colleagues requested access to the tool. After receiving positive feedback and seeing real improvements in people's sleep quality, I decided to make the tool freely available online.
I'm a software engineer with a passion for creating useful tools that improve people's lives. SleepCycle.tools represents the intersection of my technical skills and my interest in sleep science and health optimization.
Today, SleepCycle.tools helps thousands of people worldwide optimize their sleep schedules using scientifically validated principles of sleep architecture. My mission is to make sleep science accessible to everyone through simple, practical tools.
My Approach to Sleep Science
Evidence-Based
Every recommendation and calculation is based on peer-reviewed sleep science. I continuously review the latest research to refine the algorithms.
Time-Tested
The 90-minute sleep cycle pattern has been consistently observed in sleep studies across diverse populations since the 1950s, making it one of the most reliable aspects of human sleep architecture.
Data-Driven
I anonymously analyze usage patterns to improve the tools, looking for correlations between specific sleep schedules and user satisfaction.
Transparent
I clearly explain the methodology and acknowledge the limitations of the tools. Individual sleep patterns vary, and I encourage personalization.
Research Foundations
Sleep Cycle Duration
The 90-minute sleep cycle was first documented by Nathaniel Kleitman in the 1950s and has been consistently observed in subsequent research. Recent studies have confirmed this pattern across diverse populations, though individual variations exist.
Key Source: Carskadon, M. A., & Dement, W. C. (2011). Monitoring and staging human sleep. In M. H. Kryger, T. Roth, & W. C. Dement (Eds.), Principles and practice of sleep medicine, 5th edition, (pp. 16-26). St. Louis: Elsevier Saunders.
Sleep Onset Latency
The time it takes to fall asleep (sleep latency) averages 10-20 minutes in healthy adults. My calculator uses a 14-minute buffer based on population averages from multiple sleep laboratory studies.
Key Source: Ohayon, M. M., Carskadon, M. A., Guilleminault, C., & Vitiello, M. V. (2004). Meta-analysis of quantitative sleep parameters from childhood to old age in healthy individuals: developing normative sleep values across the human lifespan. Sleep, 27(7), 1255-1273.
Waking Between Cycles
Research has demonstrated that waking at the end of a complete sleep cycle results in reduced sleep inertia and improved morning alertness compared to awakenings during deep sleep phases.
Key Source: Lavie, P., Tzischinsky, O., Epstein, R., & Zomer, J. (1991). Aging and sleep-wake cycles. In The encyclopedia of sleep and sleep disorders (pp. 277-279). Facts on File Inc.
About Me
Professional Background
I'm a software engineer with over 10 years of experience in web development. I specialize in creating intuitive, accessible web applications that solve real-world problems. My background includes:
- Full-stack web development
- User experience design
- Data analysis and visualization
- Open source contribution
Beyond SleepCycle.tools, I've worked on various health tech projects and have a particular interest in tools that help people optimize their wellbeing through data-driven insights.
Personal Interest in Sleep Science
My journey into sleep optimization began after experiencing firsthand the negative effects of poor sleep quality. Through self-experimentation and extensive research, I discovered how subtle adjustments to sleep timing could dramatically improve my energy levels, cognitive performance, and overall wellbeing.
While I'm not a sleep scientist by training, I've dedicated significant time to studying the scientific literature and consulting with sleep experts to ensure that SleepCycle.tools provides accurate, evidence-based recommendations.
Connect With Me
I'm always open to feedback, questions, or just chatting about sleep science. The best ways to reach me are:
Future Plans
SleepCycle.tools is an ongoing project that I'm continuously improving. Some features I'm considering for future updates include:
- Customizable sleep cycle duration based on personal data
- Integration with popular sleep tracking apps
- Personalized recommendations based on chronotype
- Better support for shift workers
- Multilingual support
I welcome suggestions for new features! If you have ideas for how SleepCycle.tools could better serve your needs, please share them via a GitHub issue.
Thank You
I want to express my gratitude to everyone who has used SleepCycle.tools, provided feedback, or helped spread the word. Your support motivates me to continue improving this free resource.
Special thanks to the sleep researchers whose work forms the scientific foundation of this tool, and to the open source community for providing the tools and infrastructure that make projects like this possible.