What are the Best Sounds For Sleep?
We all think about getting deep restful sleep every night, but sadly only a few of us get to experience it regularly. Factors including long working hours, poor eating habits, too much screen time, noisy environments, night shifts, underlying medical conditions, and more keep good sleep out of our grasp.
Data from national health institutes shows that approximately 70 million Americans suffer from some sort of ongoing or chronic sleep disorder.
To deal with this, people try different remedies before bed like eating Deep Sleep CBD gummies, taking a hot shower, putting on blue light, lighting scented candles, dropping room temperature, and more.
But did you know that noise or sound has the most deep impact on your chances of falling into a deep sleep? Environmental noises like traffic sounds, barking dogs, and malfunctioned fans are the biggest hindrance that keeps most of us away from good sleep.
But the opposite is also true, some specific sounds like that of pouring rain or ocean waves help us to relax and fall asleep easily. Today we’ll explore how sound affects our sleep, and what are the best ones that you can play at night to experience that perfect sleep.
What are the best sounds for sleep?
Have you ever felt that when it’s raining out there, and there’s no traffic on the street, you tend to get sleepy? Calming environment sounds allow our body and mind to calm down and also improve our mood.
This increases the chances of falling asleep greatly. So let’s look at some of the best calming sounds that you can play tonight to slide into a restful sleep.
White Noise
White noise is a steady, soft sound that doesn’t change. It’s like the hum of a fan or the static on an old TV. This sound can help block out other noises that might wake you up.
It creates a constant background noise that many people find soothing. White noise machines or apps can make this sound for you all night long. You can also find live YouTube channels that play this sound 24/7 for you to relax and enjoy.
Rain Sound
The gentle patter of raindrops can be very calming. It’s a natural sound that many people find peaceful. Rain sounds can range from a drizzle to a heavier downpour. Some people also like the thunderstorm sounds mixed with light breeze effects.
The steady rhythm of rain can help quiet your mind and make you feel cozy and safe indoors. You can find recordings of rain sounds or use a sound machine to play them. Do check out this channel called Rain Sound Natural, for different kinds of non-stop rain streams.
Ocean Waves
What’s more relaxing than the sound of ocean waves hitting the shore and pulling the sand from beneath your feet? It’s a rhythmic, natural sound that can remind you of peaceful beach vacations. The steady crash of waves on the shore can help lull you to sleep.
This sound is often combined with the soft calls of seagulls or the gentle breeze for a full beach experience. It can trigger some sweet memories of fun times you spent on the beach side with your loved ones.
Forest Sounds
Forest sounds are a peaceful mix of gentle noises like rustling leaves, bird calls, and maybe a distant stream. These natural sounds can make you feel like you’re sleeping outdoors in a peaceful forest.
The variety of soft, natural noises can be very soothing and help your mind to relax. Forest sound recordings usually change slowly over time to the changing natural rhythm of a forest.
Such sounds can take away your restlessness, anxiety, and stress. This is also good for your pets if they sleep in the same room as you.
Pink Noise
Pink noise is similar to white noise but softer and deeper. Some people find it more natural sounding than white noise. Pink noise mix consists of sounds like steady rainfall or a gentle wind. Some studies show that pink noise can help you to sleep more deeply.
Just like white noise, you can enjoy the soothing effects of pink noise from special machines, apps, or many free YouTube channels. For the best experience do check out the 10-hour loop on YouTube from this channel called Nature Sounds & Everyday Noises.
Purring Cat Sound
Cats are cute, full of warmth, and make excellent soothing noises that can help you sleep. The sound of a cat purring is naturally calming for many people. It’s a low, rhythmic rumble which is very relaxing for many people.
The steady vibration of purring is believed to have healing properties and can also help in reducing your stress. Even if you don’t have a real cat, you can find recordings of cat purrs to play while you sleep on many free online platforms like YouTube.
Soft Classical Music
Soft, slow classical music can help some people to fall asleep quickly. The gentle melodies and harmonies are very relaxing. Classical music has a steady rhythm which can slow your heartbeat and calm your mind.
Music from composers like Mozart, Chopin, or Debussy can be a solid start for your classical sleep music journey. You may enjoy modern vaporwave, low synth, and shoegaze kind of music.
The Key Notes
To sum it up, listening to soothing sounds can do wonders for your sleep. Whether you are stressed, restless, or ill, the above-mentioned music and noises can help you to calm down and sleep better.
You can further improve this experience by taking some sleeping oil offered by brands like Colorado Botanicals. CBD’s nerve-calming effects and gentle noises in your earphones will help to curb your anxious thoughts and allow you to relax more quickly than usual.
You can easily find long loops of soothing streams for free on YouTube and SoundCloud. So, next time when you find yourself tossing and turning, just gulp a CBD gummy and put on some raindrop music in the background. Within a few minutes, your body will slide into a restful sleep.