Anyone who’s been to New York City will know that it’s the opposite of quiet.
We recently had some Airbnb guests staying at our Manhattan apartment. I handed them a packet of earplugs in case the noises of the city were too loud during the night.
“We shouldn’t need them – we can sleep through anything!” was their reply.
Oh, how I envy the people that can do this.
I’m regularly awoken by sirens, car horns, crazy/drunk people yelling in the streets, or the guy upstairs thumping about in his apartment at stupid hours of the night. The city that never sleeps is quite an accurate description of New York City.
But I often get bothered by noise when I travel, too. While everyone else seems to comfortably ignore people partying in hostels, children screaming on planes, or the sound of Drake pumping through the earphones of someone on a long bus ride… I sit there fuming because it irritates me.
I’ve known for a long while that I struggle to sleep through noise, so I’ve been experimenting with ways to block it out. It depends on the situation, but there’s usually one or two things we can do. Here’s a few foolproof ways that I’ve found to block out noise and get sleep.
1. Use ear plugs
Ear plugs are my number one weapon for blocking out sounds. If I’m trying to sleep anywhere that has even the slightest bit of noise, I’ll pop in some earplugs which will muffle or eliminate the disturbance.
The only problem I have with earplugs is that they sometimes irritate the inside of my ears if I use them for more than a few nights in a row, so I have to take a break. When this happens, I’ll try and use one of the following options instead.
2. Play white noise
The steady frequency of white noise makes other sounds less obvious. I find this is option great for traffic or other distant noises.
You can use a fan to create white noise in your bedroom, or if you’re travelling, downloaded a white noise app for your smartphone. I turn on the white noise right before I go to sleep, and after a few seconds I forget that it’s even there. It just blends into my surroundings.
For the smartphone white noise to work, your phone will probably have to be plugged in to power otherwise it may run out of battery overnight. Also keep in mind this option might not be so good for hostel dorms as others will be able to hear it, too.
3. Utilise blankets + towels
Noise often gets through gaps in windows and the cracks between doors and the floor. To muffle it, you can use a rolled up blanket or towel to cover the gap.
This also can work on thin window panes that are letting in noise from outside. I placed a thick blanket over the bedroom window of our New York apartment when there was some night-time road work going on and it made a huge difference to muffling the construction racket.
4. Move somewhere else
When I stayed in a hostel in Krakow, a group of young travellers returned to our dorm in the middle of the night. Two of them were a couple, who started having an argument in the room even when it was obvious that we were trying to sleep in there, and then one of the guys woke up at 5am and decided to ask his mate how his night was even though the guy was passed out drunk and non-responsive.
The next morning, I went straight to the front desk and asked if they had any other rooms available, then paid an extra $10 per night to upgrade to a private room. It just wasn’t worth me having the same trouble with these idiots again.
Sometimes you won’t have the option to change rooms like I did, but there’s a few other things you might be able to do. Try moving to a different bed if you’re in a hostel dorm – you’d be surprised at what an extra few feet of distance will do to the noise level. You could also try moving seats if you’re on a bus/plane/train.
5. Use noise cancelling earphones
If all of these don’t work, then you can try popping in some noise cancelling earphones and play your own sounds to block out the noise. The steady beats of your favourite band, some ambient music, or a guided meditation will work to distract you from other noises that are happening in the room or elsewhere. I hope one of these methods works for you! Good luck!
I wish I was a heavy sleeper, but I am the total opposite! I have heard great things about the White Noise app. I will definitely have to check it out ASAP!
You and me both, Melanie! I don’t think heavy sleepers realise how good they’ve got it. The white noise app is so good, I use it all the time 🙂
Turn on headspace sleep tones 40 mins before sleeping and read a book. breathing exercises after you get back from work with noise cancelling earphones. White noise from air purifier or fan is a great one. Not drinking coffee within 6 hours of bed time. Some herbs that helps in sleeping.
Great tips! Eugh I hate it when people are so oblivious when sharing a hostel room.
Another good tip is to nab the bottom bunk and hang your blanket/towel off the bunk above. It may look a touch anti social but if a light goes on in the dead of night it will shield you from it!
http://saintsonaplane.com
Ooh what a great tip! In the past I’ve hung my towel from the top bunk to dry, but I never through of using it as a blockout curtain – that’s genius! Thanks Sophie 🙂
City noises (traffic, sirens, protests) don’t actually bother me, I’ve gotten use to that. It’s the tv noise and light that my bf needs to sleep, company yelling (talking) in the living room. It is really only yelling that bothers me, whether it’s while I’m trying to sleep or at work. Earplugs haven’t worked for me, I use 33 dB noise reduction plugs. Headphones with music work while on the bus or at work to concentrate or just tone other people out, but they are very uncomfortable to sleep with.
I’ve noticed that it’s people noise that I find distracting. Lots of people talking at the same time (I get dizzy in crowded malls), yelling, etc.
I am desperate for sleep…next door have a barking dog, and slam their doors, and down the road is a builder who puts his loud radio on from 6am all day, and no matter how many complaints, he’s not bothered.
Please help anyone…I’ve tried ear plugs, had secondary glazing installed, nothing works. The council have been informed, nothing again. I’m 71 retired and disabled, my life is living hell.
Oh that sounds awful, Susan! If you have tried all of those things already and nothing has worked, the only suggestion I have is to move to a new place. It might not be ideal, but it would get you away from the noisy neighbours.
I really sympathise with you,Susan. It’s one of the worse things garage to be disturbed by selfish people! I’m in a similar situation myself. The council and housing association don’t seem to care and the culprits where I live don’t care either. I’ve actually had words with my neighbours and complained but they just patronise me as if I’m being unreasonable. The best thing to do would do be to get a professional round to see if they can make any alterations such as sound proofing your house. Sound proof curtains seem like a good option and aren’t too expensive,also foam which can be cut to fit your wife window on the inside and block out noise. By the way ,that’s builder sounds like an selfish man! Surely he can’t play his music from 6 am?
No one has mentioned sleeping aids. Or if you want to go natural – melatonin.
The loudest living experience I had was in China. Through LOTS of experimentation, I’d recommend the following recipe:
white noise app (can add a bluetooth speaker to amplify the white noise)
air purifier turned on
sleeping aid like melatonin
ear plugs
They have worked for me in about every loud situation I have had to sleep in. Staying in hostels is a PAIN. Most hostel guests are extremely inconsiderate of neighbors! I have experienced this in all four corners of the earth! Take extra sleeping aid!
I am literally crying reading about your situation. I am going through a very similar day by day situation and no one seems to care or tries to help. I have misophonia (crippling noise sensitivity) and its one of the main contributors to my depression and severe anxiety. I know Im responding 3 years after your comment so I hope things have greatly improved for you in that time.
Im so sorry to hear this. Sounds trigger my anxiety too. And its sad and frustrating to know ypur neighbors are completely oblivious or inconcederate of other’s i hope you find peace. Im trying to as well.
I have trouble ? because of the kids upstairs be running and all we hear is tump we go to work in the morning. We live in a place that we can move downstairs but we have to wait.
Aircraft noise
FAA decided to route air traffic over our community. I hear aircraft noise over my head every night. The air traffic is very heavy day and night. Aircraft even flies over very late at night, like 3:00 am. I am not able to sleep very well since the air traffic noise, since November 2018. I tried almost everything, such as aromatherapy, white noise, ear plugs, prescribed sleeping pills. None worked so far. I even requested my HOA to approve sound-proof windows and insulation. They do not approve. I am desperately finding out the ways to sleep in my newly remodeled bedroom.
If nothing works, I need to move out. I am not sure if my property even sells.
If anyone knows how to soundproof properties in an effective and efficient manner.
One thing that is similar to white noise is a box fan on high speed. It makes a sufficient amount of noise when I have been in a bedroom where friends snore. I do not know about all the other sounds. I have tried the Mack’s ear plugs & used shooters ear muffs at the same time. ( the shooters muff are a little uncomfortable) . Real loud snoring may be too much.
I have really BAD and i mean BAD sleeping at night. I am a heavy/deep sleeper. But it is very HARD to sleep because my sister has her room right next ti mine, and she talks super loud at night and i can’t get to sleep because of it. I yell at her to be quiet and she talks louder on purpose. Earplugs would be a good option but they are very awkward in my ears. I can’t sleep that comfortably with white noise, I need it to be very VERY quiet. I can’t move anywhere else because my sisters voice is loud throughout the whole house. Also music is proven by science, that it boosted your brain up and wants you to get up within the beat of the music/songs.
I love love music when I am sleeping
What if your neighbors are using white noise machines in which they are blasting you so much that your teeth are vibrating. Hiw can you stop it?
I don’t wear earplugs or earphones to sleep, I feel they’re too dangerous and fear they’ll get trapped in the ear canal. Sometimes a hot bath or hot drink helps, but I need to be super tired to fall asleep.
I have extremely good hearing, I am exhausted and need help finding a solution. I have tried ear plugs, music, medicine nothing seems to quiet the noise enough to get a good night sleep. Need suggestions can’t use headphones that play music it makes it worse.
I’ve used ear plugs but they are not helpful, I still hear different very annoying sounds from upstairs neighbours. They’ve woken me up in middle of the night, crazy stupid people, can’t take it. I’ve talked to caretakers several times.