If you’re having trouble sleeping and have tried everything from melatonin to sound machines without relief, Barnes has discovered a new way to get some satisfying shut eye. Could the key to a sound sleep be pink noise? And, as Barnes joked in this clip, it’s not the musical output from one Alecia Moore (although some of her tunes are not only amazing, but amazingly relaxing.) Learn more about this new way to relax.
Like its predecessor, white noise, pink noise comes out louder and more powerful at lower frequencies. It has been described as “white noise with the bass turned up.” While white noise may sound more high-pitched, like a vacuum, pink nose, which employs deeper sounds and lower sound waves, creates a more even sound, which is perceived by many as being gentler and more soothing.
Pink noise may help you fall asleep faster and stay longer in deep sleep and even make you awake feeling more rested because it reduces the difference between the background hum and loud, jarring noises that can jolt you out of sleep, like a door slamming, a car horn honking, or a snoring partner.
Researchers are still looking at the health benefits of pink noise, but some studies have already delivered some promising news. A 2017 study found that incorporating pink noise into the bedroom increased slow brain wave activity, which is associated with deep sleep. A similar 2016 study also found that adults who took daytime naps with the help of pink noise experienced improved sleep and memory.
While you can find pink noise in nature, in sounds like waves lapping against the shoreline, leaves rusting in the trees and a steady rainfall, you can also find it on your smartphone or computer. A quick YouTube search brings up many videos, some with black screens accompanying the noise for a full ten hours, so you can leave it on your TV while you sleep. There are also apps for iOS and Android and even a Spotify playlist with numerous tracks of pink noise you can play on a loop to get the benefits.
Getting a good night’s sleep is essential to your mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Incorporating pink noise into your bedtime routine may prove beneficial, but to make sure you’re getting the most from it, ensure you’re practice good sleep hygiene. This includes going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, working out during daytime hours, creating a sleep-friendly room that’s dark and comfortable and avoiding caffeine, alcohol and big meals before you hit the hay. While more research needs to be done to see how pink noise affects your sleep, focus, and memory, it’s safe and has no downside, so give it a try and color your way to a better night’s sleep.
