Can Music, Binaural Beats, Pink Noise, or Nature Sounds Help Me Sleep?
The best music for sleep may depend on your personal preference. A noisy environment can disrupt sleep and increase the risk of long-term health effects. The World Health Organization recommends keeping environmental noise levels below 40 decibels at night. Unfortunately, depending on where you live, it may be impossible to ensure a sufficiently quiet bedroom environment. Though there isn’t research yet specifically about the sounds of an oscillating fan, it does act as white noise and could offer some of the same benefits—like masking external noise.
A study of 24 young adults demonstrated that sedative music promoted deeper sleep . While naps of short duration have been linked to improvements in alertness and well-being, there are mixed opinions about the effects of napping on nighttime sleep. However, the inability to fall back asleep can ruin a good night’s rest . Lastly, mindfulness may help you maintain focus on the present, worry less while falling asleep, and even function better during the day .
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Whether you have a lot on your mind or just can’t get comfortable in bed, sometimes we need a little extra help to drift off to sleep. Perhaps what’s missing from your nighttime routine is listening to a sleep podcast. Before they were born, your baby was serenaded by the constant rumbly sounds of the womb. And that’s why a super quiet room can be unsettling for little ones…and not conducive to sleep. Instead of a hushed sleep space, babies crave rumbly white noise—and that’s especially so when they’re upset.
People who wake up in the middle of the night often tend to watch the clock and obsess about the fact that they can’t fall back asleep. Research shows that yoga can have a positive effect on sleep parameters such as sleep quality, sleep efficiency, and sleep duration . Get out and expose your body to sunlight or artificial bright light throughout the day. If possible, use blackout curtains to make your room dark at night. The “4-7-8” method that Dr. Andrew Weil developed is a simple but powerful breathing method that promotes calmness and relaxation. It’s something you do every day, but most of us miss the mark.