One in four Brits fall asleep listening to white noise every night, study finds
Over a quarter of Brits (26%) fall asleep listening to white noise every night – with 27% saying they would struggle to nod off without it, a study has found.
A survey of 2,000 adults found that four in ten opt for soothing rainfall sounds to help them drift off, while music is a popular choice for a third (34%) of those polled.
Audio books (16%), wind sounds (21%), and the buzzing sound of a fan (24%) also appeared on the top 15 list of sounds Brits like to fall asleep to – and 7% even named the purring of a cat as relaxing.
It also emerged the top noises that help them to gently wake up in the morning include the sound of a kettle boiling, or a piece of toast being cut. Half of respondents say they enjoy listening to white noise as a way to help them either fall asleep, or to rise and shine.
Consequently, hotel chain Premier Inn, which commissioned the research, has launched a new ASMR channel, Nod-Flix, where guests can have their optimal video and soundscape play as they drift off.
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Sleep expert Hannah Shore, who is working with the hotel brand in partnership with Silentnight, said: “Depending on the individual, watching or listening to something calming before bed can be part of our sleep process.
“Different sounds generate different responses from our subconscious when we’re asleep, so what might be soothing to one, might not be for another.
“If you’re sharing a bed or a room, be considerate and invest in a pair of headphones – or why not try finding a sound that you both find soothing?”
The study also found that if they are sharing a room with other people and unable to listen to their white noise, 27% wouldn’t be able to sleep properly as a result.
More than half (58%) normally listen to these sounds or noises on their phone, with 34% tuning in via an app – while 15% even have a sound machine.
It also emerged half of the adults polled feel their sleep varies depending on the season we’re in, with 57% believing they sleep the best during autumn or winter – while just 7% claim they get the best shut eye over the summer months.
Respondents were shown a number of hotel-inspired ASMR type videos from the Nod-Flix channel, from the kettle boiling to a suitcase being pulled along hard floor. It found the sound of sizzling bacon was found to be most relaxing, followed by the trickle of running water from the shower.
The study, carried out via OnePoll.com, also revealed the sound of a vacuum was surprisingly least calming. Hannah Shore, for Premier Inn, added: “Switching off does not come as easy to some people as it does others, and sounds are a great way to help with this.
“Some people prefer complete silence, whereas to others the silence means they listen out for all the little sounds – in a hotel this can be people walking down the hall, doors closing, or the lift.
“Others may find they need their brain to concentrate on something else. In these cases, there needs to be something in the sounds they can focus on – like the slow rhythm of calming music, the repetitiveness of waves lapping on the beach, or even the noise of the TV.
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“This can allow the mind to switch off from the day, therefore allowing you to fall asleep, which we hope the Nod-Flix channel will accomplish for many.”
TOP 15 NOISES THAT HELP BRITS FALL ASLEEP:
- Rainfall sounds
- Music
- Ocean sounds
- The sound of a fan
- The sound of a favourite TV show/streaming service
- Wind sounds
- Podcasts
- Audio books
- Jungle/forest/woodland sounds
- Fireplace sounds
- Static sounds
- City ambience
- Animal sounds
- A cat purring
- The sound of a vacuum cleaner
HANNAH SHORE'S TOP TIPS FOR A RESTFUL NIGHT'S SLEEP:
- If you're going to watch something before bed, make sure it's calming content
- Keep the space you're sleeping in tidy
- Don't eat a heavy meal before bed
- Invest in some bed socks – they help increase blood circulation
- Make sure your pillow supports your sleeping position
- Dim the lights – it helps our bodies to produce sleep hormones, like melatonin
- Get some black-out blinds or curtains to block out bright lights
- Listen to white noise such as fans, hairdryers, hoovers, to block out sound
- To go to sleep in a calmer way, listen to pink noise, such as wind, steady rain, and leaves
- Listen to green noise, which is similar to pink but will have an undertone of more constant hissing noise, like running streams
- To help you focus throughout the day, listen to brown noises which have deeper tones, such as the crack of thunder
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