We already knew the benefits of white noise on sleep. But another sound, that of “green” noises, would also be effective against insomnia.
White, pink, brown… We don’t necessarily know but the noise can be “colored”. “White” noise is known to promote falling asleep and the relaxation. It characterizes sounds similar to sound of vacuum cleaner, hairdryer or rain, emitted constantly. But another sound, that of “green noises” would also have virtues against sleeping troubles which concern 30 to 50% of adults In France. Green noise would be the key to a good night sleep. Many Internet users praise its effectiveness in falling asleep more quickly on Tiktok.
“Green” in reference to the sounds of nature?
Green noise is a variation of white noise. “It is generally equal to or close to a frequency of 500 Hz” says Dr. Chris Winter, sleep neurologist at the Huffington Post. This frequency level is considered AVERAGEin other words, it is a sound neither too high nor too low. Green noises refer to all sounds linked to nature, hence its name. They refer for example:
- At water runoff,
- to the sound of the wind,
- At birds chirping,
- to the rolling waves
- or even at crespite from the fire in a fireplace.
“Overall, there is limited data on green noise and sleep, but there are evidence that it can potentially help improve sleep onset” supports holistic sleep and behavioral sleep medicine physician Sarah Silverman in the Huffington Post. Green noise can help sleep better by masking surrounding sounds which can wake us up or disrupt our sleep, for example noise of cars or some snoring if we sleep together. “The constancy and uniformity of green noise can have a calming effect and help create a calmer environment conducive to sleep by reducing stress and anxiety” develops Sarah Silverman.
Don’t listen to it all night
Although green noise can help you fall asleep, it should not be listened to all night continuously as it could be counter productive long-term. “We suggest settling a timer so that the noise stops during the night so that the person can maintain their sleep” suggests Kristen Casey, clinical psychologist and specialist in insomnia. You can also find limited time green noise videos on Youtube or streaming platforms. As with white noise, the effectiveness on sleep can vary from one individual to another.