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This article will explore the different types of sounds that can help with better sleep throughout the night.
White noise, pink noise, brown noise; Which one?
White noise, pink noise, brown noise; Which one?
By: Payton Ashley
By: Payton Ashley
White noise or some type of noise has been scientifically proven to help with sleep improvement. Having noise present as you sleep can be crucial for constant sleep throughout the night. Although some might find it distracting, it has been found that it will help if you have trouble falling asleep or struggle with sleeping soundly throughout the night.
Many people listen to something throughout the night, regardless of whether or not they even think about it. It could be a TV, a fan, or a dryer constantly running in the laundry room. Whatever it may be, the constant, non-changing sounds can help your brain to relax and therefore cause you to fall asleep faster. Other background noises such as nature sounds can also be found to be relaxing. According to RISE, “White noise is a constant patternless noise that contains all frequencies the human ear can hear on the sound spectrum.” Hitting all the frequencies in a human ear can trigger your brain into unintentionally relaxing, and it will slow down your thoughts. There are many different types of noises you could fall asleep to, so it's all about narrowing down which one would be the most helpful to you.
Brown noise and pink noise are also two other types of sounds you can find. Pink noise is similar to white noise, and can be found in sounds such as waterfalls, ocean waves or steady rain. Brown noise is quite different from white or pink noise. Brown noise has a lower frequency and sounds a lot like thunder. Nature sounds can consist of all three.
Listening to music can also be helpful, but it usually needs to be something soft and soothing. If a person has a love for music, listening to it as you sleep can become comforting: “Your favorite songs can help you relax and provide distraction if you find yourself awake with anxious thoughts. There’s even some evidence to show it may help those with sleep disorders like insomnia.” All types of sounds can be extremely soothing and beneficial to sleep improvement. In 2017, Live Science did a study on ten people living in a noisy neighborhood in New York City. They had each one of them listen to white noise as they slept to see if it would help with sleep improvement. They found that “it helped mask environmental noise. Participants reported improvements in sleep quality and how long it took to fall asleep.”
There are many different outlets a person can use to help with sleep improvement. There are many different types of pillows, mattresses, and sleep medications that can also help if that is the most helpful and beneficial option for a person. If you are searching for individual sleep improvement, some simple noise as you sleep could be just the answer you're looking for.
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