From the time they were infants, my grandchildren have always gone to bed at night with some sort of ambient noisemaker at their bedside. It may be the sound of rolling ocean waves, or gentle wind and forest noises, lullaby music, or even just mild static. Since I never used any sound to fall asleep, I never quite understood the logic. Wouldn’t the noise tend to keep you awake?
But the other night I was having trouble falling asleep. Guess I just got to thinking about stuff. After what seemed like hours of restlessness, I suddenly heard the sound of raindrops on the roof. A mild storm had moved in. To my surprise, the steady pitter patter above me seemed to help me relax, and I dropped off to lala land shortly after.
I get it now. Apparently a wall of steady noise helps chase pesky thoughts out of your head. Your brain focuses on just one benign, relentless stimulus. It doesn’t have to work to solve problems or plan activities. It can switch to low, easy power.
I still prefer quiet and silence when I go to bed, but if noise works for you, go for it. It is grandchild tested and approved.
Before I retired, I needed the tv on in the bedroom to drift off to sleep. If my husband found me asleep and he wasn’t ready to come to bed, he would turn it off. Any little noise would then wake me and I would be awake the remainder of the night. Now that I’m a widow, it’s difficult to fall asleep with noise of any kind. Go figure.
Yes, sleep is a mysterious and sometimes evasive thing. Thanks for your comment Judy.