REST + RELAXATION
By Gary Wollenhaupt
You may be one of the 25 to 30 percent of American adults who suffer from insomnia. Men start out with a higher rate of sleep issues, but women catch up to them by around age 50. Noise, or lack thereof, contributes to trouble falling and staying asleep. It’s about more than masking sudden noises like a dog barking or a far-off siren. It’s about stimulating your Sublim e Sl eeee p
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Best Noise for Sleep The good news is that it’s fairly easy to test which noise is best for you. Try falling asleep to the sound of a running fan in the bedroom. The next night, play the sounds of waves crashing against the shore to test brown noise to get a feel for which might work better for you. There are many phone apps that let you choose from a wide variety of options. Tips for Sleeping With Noises Use low volume. You could keep yourself awake if it’s too loud. Set a timer so sounds don’t play all night. Many apps have timers for this reason. Try it out. Experiment with different noise types (there are others, including pink and blue) to see which helps you more. sensory system with the right kind of noise for you. There’s a fine line between too much noise and too little as you fall asleep. It’s hard to block out loud noises, but too little noise and your brain latches on to every distraction. You need the right kind of aural stimulation to put you in productive sleep mode. The question becomes, white noise or brown noise? Studies have shown that listening to specific frequencies can improve sleep quality and reduce the time it takes to fall asleep. Playing gentle and relaxing sounds can help cover abrupt noises that would otherwise wake you.
White Noise is a combination of all audio frequencies that humans can hear, which blend into a high-pitched, staticky sound. You’ve heard it in sounds like TV or radio static, the whir of a fan or vacuum, or a noisy air conditioner. Brown Noise features low-frequency sounds and bypasses the high-frequency sounds. It’s deeper with more bass tone and less hiss than white noise. Brown noise includes sounds like rainfall or a shower with strong water pressure.
OFTEN, IT’S NOT THE NOISE ITSELF BUT RATHER THE SUDDEN CHANGE IN NOISE THAT’S LIKELY TO INTERRUPT YOUR SLUMBER. THAT’S WHERE WHITE AND BROWN NOISE CAN HELP.
18 POLACHECK’S JEWELERS MAGAZINE
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