{"id":29882,"date":"2023-07-26T04:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-07-26T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.saatva.com\/?p=29882"},"modified":"2024-03-01T15:18:58","modified_gmt":"2024-03-01T15:18:58","slug":"green-noise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/green-noise\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Green Noise\u2014and Can It Help You Sleep Better?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

White noise<\/a>, which is a noise that stays consistent across all hearable frequencies, has long been a go-to for people who need a little background noise to help them fall (and stay) asleep. [1]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But in recent years, other types of static noise have been gaining traction as effective sleep aids, like brown noise (which is focused on extremely low frequencies) or pink noise (which mixes high and low frequencies).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And for good reason! Whatever the color, \u201cconsistent static noise on a similar frequency can help many people sleep more soundly,\u201d says Chelsie Rohrscheib, PhD, neuroscientist and head sleep expert at Wesper<\/a>. [2]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That includes the newest color noise on the block, one that could be even more effective than the rest of the spectrum\u2014and that\u2019s green noise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many followers are claiming that green noise is the key to increased calm and better sleep. But what does green noise do? What is green noise good for? And, most importantly, is green noise good for sleep?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is green noise? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Green noise is a mid-to-low-frequency form of noise (generally around 500 Hz, according to the Huffington Post<\/a>) that mimics the sounds of nature\u2014for example, rolling waves, rushing waterfalls, or gusts of wind. And playing those sounds as you fall asleep\u2014and throughout the night\u2014can help improve the overall quality of your sleep. [3]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn order to fall asleep, our brain has to reduce its heightened awareness of stimuli in our sleeping environment,\u201d explains Rohrscheib. \u201cSome people have a heightened awareness, usually related to stress, that makes it super difficult to fall asleep. This is especially true when there is inconsistent, random noise<\/a>\u2014such as street noise or the sound of your pet moving\u2014that keeps the brain on high alert.\u201d [2]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rohrscheib says using a consistent background noise\u2014such as green noise, which doesn\u2019t change frequency\u2014can mask the inconsistent noises in your bedroom that are keeping you awake. \u201c[Green noise] also helps the brain relax and brings your nervous system into a state of relaxation,\u201d she adds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Basically, green noise can help you tune out any loud or distracting sounds while also helping you unwind and relax<\/a>\u2014both of which set you up for getting a great night\u2019s sleep.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The benefits of green noise<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Next up: What is green noise good for?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As mentioned, green noise offers a number of benefits\u2014mainly in helping to create a more sleep-friendly environment<\/a>, both internally and externally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGreen noise\u2026helps us block out sounds in our environment that would keep us awake,\u201d says Rohrscheib. \u201cGreen noise also helps the brain and body to relax, making us more primed for sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s research to support that a variety of noise types\u2014like white noise, pink noise, or even certain types of music\u2014can help improve sleep quality. But green noise can be especially effective in promoting better sleep. [2, 4, 5]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, one study found that listening to nature sounds (aka green noise) helped to improve overall sleep quality for patients in hospital settings\u2014where environmental noise and other distractions, like harsh lighting, commonly disrupt sleep. [3]<\/sup> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plus, the nature-inspired sounds of green noise can, for some, be easier to adjust to than other types of noise. \u201cGreen noise is more natural than white noise, so adjusting to using green noise while you sleep is easier for many people,\u201d says Rohrscheib.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cGreen noise\u2026helps us block out sounds in our environment that would keep us awake. Green noise also helps the brain and body to relax, making us more primed for sleep.\u201d<\/p>\nChelsie Rohrscheib, PhD<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Green noise vs. white noise: What\u2019s the difference? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are a few differences between white noise and green noise\u2014starting with frequency. White noise is a type of noise that remains consistent across all frequencies\u2014while green noise has a low frequency (again, typically around 500 Hz).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are also differences in the way white noise and green noise actually sound. \u201cWhite noise\u2026tends to sound more mechanical like static or a fan\u2014whereas green noise sounds more like nature, similar to sounds of rain, waves, or wind,\u201d says Rohrscheib.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Green noise is generally a mix of different nature-inspired sounds, which can make for a soothing listening experience\u2014and can also include other types of targeted noise for sleep, like brown noise (which uses deep, bass tones, like thunder) or pink noise (which is centered on creating a consistent experience, like the steady fall of rain). [6, 7]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to use green noise for better sleep <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Does drifting off to the sounds of nature<\/a> sound like your idea of a great night\u2019s sleep? Here are a few tips to get the green noise sleep you\u2019re dreaming of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Choose the right length and volume<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In order to get green noise\u2019s maximum sleep-boosting benefit, it\u2019s important to start listening before you fall asleep\u2014and keep listening until it\u2019s time to wake up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEnsure that your green noise plays long enough for the entire duration of your sleep,\u201d says Rohrscheib. \u201cIf your green noise cuts off too early, this may trigger your brain to wake up.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s also important to make sure your green noise is at the ideal volume. \u201cMake sure your green noise is loud enough to block external sounds in your environment but not loud enough to be stimulating or distracting,\u201d says Rohrscheib.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find the right green noise<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

To use green noise to get better sleep, you have to know where to find it. Green noise YouTube videos are a great way to leverage green noise to improve your sleep. The platform is full of videos (many of which are 12+ hours long!) that you can put on before bed and listen to as you drift off to sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Need some videos to get started? Here are some green noise YouTube videos to try tonight:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n