Do you sleep better with complete silence or with white noise in background?
By Anish Asokan
@RevivedWarrior (3524)
India
February 11, 2025 11:16am CST
Do you sleep better with complete silence or with white noise in background?
We all love our sleep. If we get more deep sleep, we feel more refreshed the next day. When it comes to improving sleep quality, there are people who like a little noise in the background and some love silence.
For me, I love a little white noise. It helps to mask the sounds caused by the traffic or other household noises. Sometimes you feel something is happening in the background and there is comfort. My love for white noise does not mean I love amplifiers at night. A little hum of the fan or AC is what I classify as white noise.
During my college days, I did encounter people who wanted absolute silence while sleeping. A slight noise irritates them and often they never shared their rooms with others.
Do you sleep better with complete silence or with white noise in background
12 people like this
12 responses
@lilacskies (3736)
• United States
11 Feb
White noise if I have insomnia. No noise if I don't.
3 people like this
@RevivedWarrior (3524)
• India
12 Feb
Well, that understandable. You feel some comfort with some noise while we are battling insomnia.
1 person likes this
@lilacskies (3736)
• United States
12 Feb
@RevivedWarrior Yes, the noise can help.
1 person likes this
@RevivedWarrior (3524)
• India
12 Feb
Well, natural sound or slight white noise gives us the comfort and secure feeling. A perfect silence might make some of us anxious.
@FourWalls (71424)
• United States
11 Feb
I have always used white noise, even before it was cool. 
3 people like this
@RevivedWarrior (3524)
• India
12 Feb
Thats good to know. Well, it seems to be helpful to most.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (141563)
• United States
11 Feb
Noises while I'm asleep can irritate me and wake me up. Pretty moving around the house doesn't USUALLY bother me but if she makes too much noise, I will wake up and be awake for quite a while. If something wakes me up I usually go to the bathroom and then come to myLot until I'm tired enough to go back to sleep.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (141563)
• United States
12 Feb
@RevivedWarrior I run a fan in the Spring, Summer and Fall in my bedroom and don't notice it. But it's really quiet. Things outside won't bother me as long as I'm asleep before the sounds outside start. (Our neighbor mows around 9 am a couple of times a week from early Summer until late Fall. If I'm awake when he starts mowing, I can't go to sleep until he stops. If I'm asleep when he starts, I sleep through the mowing sounds.)
1 person likes this
@RevivedWarrior (3524)
• India
12 Feb
Slight white noise like the sound of fan , perhaps may not be disturbing you. But moderate noise should distrub most of our lives. I too feel uncomfortable when there is sound moderately. Tough to sleep in such environments.
1 person likes this
@rakski (132556)
• Philippines
12 Feb
@RevivedWarrior and that is what I am after. To be able to sleep more
@RevivedWarrior (3524)
• India
12 Feb
Looks you are tolerant to a bit of white noise but prefer total silence. But good sleep is must!
1 person likes this
@RevivedWarrior (3524)
• India
12 Feb
Well, thats what I call a sleep lover. You adjust your sleep according to the situation and get that well deserved relaxation.
@allknowing (140788)
• India
11 Feb
It is complete silence in the night but for my afternoon nap I like to have my TV on
1 person likes this
@RevivedWarrior (3524)
• India
12 Feb
You love both- complete silence and one with white noise. Thats rare for a person.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (75034)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
11 Feb
I like quiet, just the natural sounds around me. There's usually something, like the sound of my husband breathing. If we're getting a hard enough rain, i might sleep more soundly. As long there isn't light in my face.
2 people like this
@RevivedWarrior (3524)
• India
12 Feb
Guess you are ok with little white noise like the sound fo AC or the fan. Some people do not light in bedrooms while they sleep , it does impact the quality of sleep.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (75034)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
12 Feb
@RevivedWarrior Well, if the sound of a fan or the ac means I can breathe, then that is worth it.
1 person likes this
@luisadannointed (7223)
• Philippines
12 Feb
Good for you, you know how to create a good sleep.
I can sleep after a long hours of making myself sleep... but it really helps when I hear something playing in the youtube... a podcast or something I really love to listen too except music.
1 person likes this
@RevivedWarrior (3524)
• India
12 Feb
Music can bring in the soothing effect , a slight white noise effect and get you in sleep mode. It gices us the comfort and secure feeling as well.
@RevivedWarrior (3524)
• India
12 Feb
You are not averse to little white noise in background although you prefer complete silence. Thats flexibility and the importance is to sleep and quality of sleep.
1 person likes this
@aninditasen (16675)
• Raurkela, India
12 Feb
I do love complete silence while sleeping but yes as I do some bed time yoga I fall asleep even if there's some noise around. Only the noise shouldn't be too loud.
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@RevivedWarrior (3524)
• India
12 Feb
So you are tolerant to slight noise but prefer noise. Good to know you do bedtime yoga. I need to check on that . A good routine to start with!
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@aninditasen (16675)
• Raurkela, India
13 Feb
@RevivedWarrior I don't prefer noise but if there's some loud music going on near about I have to tolerate and go to sleep.
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@grenery8 (13376)
• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)
17 Feb
@RevivedWarrior it won't and it drives me crazy.
1 person likes this
@RevivedWarrior (3524)
• India
14 Feb
A little white noise is mostly fine with most people. Car engine or loud sound or music definitely would not help.
1 person likes this
