How to Sleep With Noise

Sleep in the Noisiest of Situations

Whether you live in a city filled with loud traffic and construction machinery or a bucolic rural area where noise is more likely to come from barking dogs or your neighbor's lawn mower, we all occasionally have to try to sleep through noise. Although it can be difficult and even aggravating at first, if you take your mind off how worried you are that you won't be able to sleep, you'll have fought half the battle. Add a few tools to help get to sleep a little easier and you'll be sleeping like a baby in even the loudest of situations.

Things You'll Need

• Earplugs Noise-canceling headphones and music Eye mask Lavender oil

Instructions

1. Put in earplugs.Being able to cut out at least half the noise will make the rest of the noise more manageable. You can buy earplugs at any drugstore (see Resources). Gently roll the earplugs between your fingers, squeezing them to thin cylinders. Place an earplug into an ear and hold it there while you wait for it to expand and fill the ear canal. Repeat with the other ear.

2. Use noise-canceling headphones that play music or white noise if you prefer listening to something. You can buy CDs with white noise or relaxation music at a health food store or many sites online. Place a CDs in your player or rip it onto your MP3 player, and you will be transported to an entirely different place.

3. Wear an eye mask. Even if it is mostly dark where you are trying to sleep, a mask will help you get a better night's sleep by cutting out all light. The more your senses are relaxed, the easier it will be to sleep through the noise.

4. Practice breathing rhythmically and deeply. Take deep breaths, counting each one until you get to three. Once you have counted the third breath, start over again. Focus on counting your breaths, which will put you in a meditative state and allow you to relax instead of being aware of the noise.

5. Dab lavender oil on your forehead and just under your nose. The lavender oil will relax your body and, as you take deep breaths, will help your body achieve a restful state. Concentrate on breathing in the lavender oil instead of focusing on the noise around you. You can find lavender oil at a health food store.

Tips & Warnings

• Noise-canceling headphones are available as lightweight ear buds and as larger full head phones.

• Test lavender oil on the inside of your wrist before putting it on your face to make sure you're not over-sensitive to it.

References

• The Daily Mind: How to Sleep When it's Noisy Outside
• Cambridge University Counseling: Insomnia

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Walgreen's: Earplugs