Rain, White Noise or ASMR? Choosing the Right Sleep Sound
Background sounds can help mask noise and calm a busy mind. Here's how to pick the right one from Nidoria's six sound categories.
Many people find it easier to fall asleep with a gentle sound in the background. A steady, soothing sound can mask sudden noises like traffic, a barking dog or a snoring partner, and give a racing mind something calm to focus on.
Nidoria's sound library has six categories. Here's how to choose.
Rain
Rain is one of the most popular sleep sounds for a reason: it's steady, natural and gently varied. Light rain feels soft and relaxing, while heavier rain or distant thunder is great at covering louder background noise.
Noise
White, pink and brown noise are consistent "shhh" sounds that fill the background. They're ideal if your main problem is an unpredictable environment, such as city noise, a shared room or a busy household, because they keep the sound level steady.
Nature
Ocean waves, wind in the trees, crickets and rivers bring the outdoors into your bedroom. Nature sounds are a good choice if you find pure noise too flat and want something a little more alive.
ASMR
ASMR sounds such as soft tapping, brushing and gentle whispers give some people a relaxing, tingly sensation that helps them unwind. If ASMR works for you, it can be a great part of your wind-down routine.
Meditation
Meditation tracks are slow, ambient and designed to help you settle your breathing and let go of the day. They work well in your wind-down window before you start tracking.
Healing
Healing sounds are soft tones and ambient pieces with a calm, spacious feel. Try them if you like music-like sounds without lyrics or a strong melody.
Tips for using sleep sounds
- Keep the volume low. The sound should sit quietly in the background, not compete for your attention.
- Pick a steady sound for the whole night. Sounds with sudden changes can be more disruptive than helpful.
- Save your favourites. Build a playlist of the sounds that work for you so they're one tap away at bedtime.
- Play during your session. Nidoria keeps your sound playing in the background while it tracks your sleep.
A selection of Nidoria's sounds is free. You can unlock any individual premium track by watching a short ad, or get unlimited access to every sound with Nidoria Premium.
