Natural Sounds May Really Be Music to Your Ears
By Tom Herrin
How many people enjoy the sounds of traffic like screeching tires, honking horns, backfiring engines? It is not the most pleasant of thoughts, nor the kindest thing to our ears. You don’t normally look forward to hearing any of those things unless you have been locked away for years. There is something soothing and relaxing about the sounds of a stream with babbling water. For many of us, birds chirping and a soft breeze moving leaves on trees provide a nice background. We think of such sounds as relaxing and promoting sleep. In some cases, those very same sounds can make us more productive.
How Can Sounds Keep Us Engaged?
Many of us may have difficulties focusing on tasks at times. It may seem like every little noise can be a distraction. Our ability to be productive is compromised when our concentration is disrupted so much. Many of the sounds of nature provide us with a more positive outlook. We feel better. Our subconscious takes over our productivity, and we are able to focus more effectively. Natural sounds appear to make us more upbeat. As we all know, when we feel better about ourselves, we get more done. Sounds can be a trigger for our emotional well-being.
What Kinds of Sounds Work?
I already mentioned some popular sounds such as water running. It seems that most people are affected in a good way by that. Other sounds, still related to water, make the list as well. Crashing waves at a beach, rain, and waterfalls all tend to have an effect on us. When we throw in some other natural sounds like jungle sounds and the rumble of thunder, we have a pretty good set to choose from. Many of these are available on various soundtracks. I have used them to drown out other distractions in order to sleep. Studies have now shown they can be used to increase work productivity.
Experiment With Sounds
Whether you are using sounds to relax and sleep or improve your performance in your work, the impact of sounds is real. Putting ourselves in greater harmony with our environment can be a win all the way around. I have tinnitus, which is a ringing in the ears. When I use background noises, I hardly notice it. When I am in a room with total quiet, my tinnitus drives me crazy. When you come into a room where I am, whether working or sleeping, I will have some kind of sound going. Give sounds a try. See if they end up being music to your ears.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic.