Credits: Social Media
TikTok user swears by two simple tricks to fall asleep, expert says ‘do both’
A woman has gone viral on TikTok after explaining that she uses two simple tricks every night to help her sleep.
She swears by them for the perfect slumber, and a sleep expert agrees that you should “do both” for the “best results”.
Two simple tricks to fall asleep
The two things the TikTok user does “every night” are playing brown noise and lying in pitch-black darkness.
In the viral video which has had more than 14 million views, she gets into bed, goes onto YouTube and finds a brown noise video with a dark screen. She puts the volume on full blast and claims it “tunes everything out”.
Brown noise, also called red noise, produces a deep “rumbling sound” with a “bass-like tone,” WebMD explains. The sound level decreases as the frequency goes up, and it’s similar to a steady heavy rainfall or a shower with good pressure.
In the comments, others are claiming they also use brown noise to fall asleep, with one person writing: “Brown noise is so soothing.”
“Brown noise on my Alexa on a loop, no fade and it stays on all night,” said another.
A third person added: “This is the only thing I can listen to in order to sleep.”
Sleep expert says ‘do both’
Sleep expert Olivia Arezzolo told The Focus that brown noise “can help entrain brainwaves to a slower, more rhythmic pattern, more conductive to sleep”. She also said it can drown out background noise, including both internal chatter and external noise, like road traffic.
However, she explained that in terms of priority, it’s actually light that has a “greater impact on sleep,” adding: “So with the video also mentioning that the room is pitch black, this in fact would be the primary contributor to improved sleep.”
“For best results, do both!” the sleep expert said.
A report by the National Institute of Health explains that your central circadian clock, located in your brain, tells you when it is time for sleep. However, light can disrupt this process by giving your body “false wakefulness cues”.
Artificial light from TV screens and smartphones prevents your brain from releasing melatonin, a hormone which increases in the evening in response to darkness and helps your body determine when it’s time to sleep.
Sleep is a hot topic of conversation on TikTok right now thanks to the Sleepy Girl Mocktail, a viral drink made up of three ingredients that are supposed to give you the perfect slumber.
