This fast-paced world has given a lot to us. But as they say, you win some, you lose some, and the most important thing that many of our generation have lost is their sound sleep. You might have encountered many people in your surroundings or at least come across such people on the internet who use white noise for better sleep. White noise works because it contains all sound frequencies across the spectrum, masking unwanted noise in your environment and giving you a good night’s sleep. Interestingly, white noise isn’t the only noise on the block. You might be less familiar with other noise colors, especially green noise.
It is a lesser-known sibling of the noise color family but has gained a lot of traction in the recent past, claiming that it is much better than white noise for providing sound sleep. TikTok users have especially lobbied behind green noise, which is advantageous for a restful night’s sleep. In this guide, we will discuss whether green noise is better than white noise, as said, or whether there are other noise colors that you should be paying attention to. Let’s jump right into it.
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What is white noise?
White noise is a specific type of noise that blends all types of frequencies across spectrums that the human ear can detect. It derives its name from white noise, which contains all colors in the visual spectrum. White noise, anecdotally, is referred to as the static noise of the TV or radio.
If you are new to this noise color family, then you would question how noise can help you get a sound sleep. Well, that’s the advantage of white noise, as it resembles a blank canvas, which doesn’t have anything in higher quantity than the other to distract the brain or raise thoughts, in turn giving you a clear head to sleep. To understand it better, imagine white noise as the default equalizer, where you have tweaked any of the frequencies, and all frequencies are entering your ear at just the right amount.
One study by NIH (National Institute of Health) reveals that the brain registers white noise, not as an actual noise or beat but as a background sound, which can mask the unwanted surrounding noise, give you sound sleep, and not keep you awake. So, it promotes relaxation in your mind and also silences amplifying thoughts.
Here’s what white noise sounds like:
What is green noise?
Ambient noises are categorized into colors; thus, we get the noise colors. While white noise has been pretty popular for providing you with better sleep, other colors are claimed to offer advantages over white noise. Green noise (you might have associated it with nature, and you are right) provides a more soothing sound of nature.
Imagine the sounds of lush green fields, the breeze rustling through the forest, water touching the shore, etc. Green noise mimics the sounds of nature, maintaining a frequency of around 500 Hz, as per a neurologist, Dr. Chris Winter. Sounds like ocean waves, waterfalls, rivers falling down the stream, etc., all come under green noise. Green noise limits the harsh, high tones of white noise and tends to be more gentle on your brain.
While there are videos on TikTok and other social media platforms saying that green noise is better than white noise, the presence of limited data doesn’t help us arrive at a conclusion. But that doesn’t mean that green noise is worthless and isn’t as good as white noise. The green noise is the sound of nature, and when we are disturbed, we often take a walk to a garden or want to be surrounded by trees or be with nature.
The same phenomenon works with green noise, which connects you to nature via its sounds, calming your nerves, bringing down your anxiety levels, and providing you with sound sleep. Green noise is also called the noise color for improving focus and reducing stress.
Here’s what green noise sounds like:
What are the advantages of Green noise?
White noise has been the talk of the town when it comes to getting better sleep. However, some find the hiss distracting or unpleasant. For such people, green noise can come in handy. Here are a few advantages that people comfortable with green noise would feel:
- Helps you relax: Nature, no matter which mood you are in, will relax you, which is similar to what green noise has been found to do (as per research by the University of Sussex). It helps to activate the rest mode in your body, which in turn provides good sleep.
- Lowers disturbance-causing noises: If you are in a place with bustling traffic, then green noise can help reduce that or mask it, giving you a pleasant environment for a sound sleep.
- Enhances deep sleep: Since it promotes relaxation, it can help you fall asleep because of the soothing noise of nature, making you feel relaxed, rested, and ready for good sleep.
- Normalizes heart rate: Listening to green noise can help normalize the heart rate, leading to sound sleep.
This also gives you information that not everyone will like what is trending. This means that white noise may work for some, but it may not for others. They will have to look at a different noise color, and let us tell you that green noise isn’t the only alternative to white noise. There are other noise colors as well.
Read More: The 5 Best Sleep Headphones in 2024 [Buyer’s Guide]
How is green noise compared to white noise and other noise colors?
We mentioned earlier that green noise isn’t the only alternative to white noise. There is brown and pink noise as well. Pink noise is something that leaves behind rustling and is lower pitched. On the other hand, brown noise has the lowest pitch, as it focuses more on low frequencies. So, an example of pink noise would be light rain, rustling leaves, etc., whereas an example of brown noise would be thunder and heavy rain.
So, instead of comparing all the noise colors, we have given the qualities of each noise color that will help you decide which one you want based on your situation.
- White noise: White noise: You can use white noise, as most people in the world do, to get a sound sleep. White noise helps block distractions and helps your mind focus on getting good sleep. It is nice if you are in a crowded place and want your brain to be cut off from the hustle and bustle so that it doesn’t interfere with concentration or relaxation. White noise has also been found to be beneficial for people with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
- Green noise: The sound of nature or green noise, which is filtered at around 500 Hz, will help you calm your senses, lower your heart rate, and focus on something. This can be a good noise color that you can follow for sleeping. It acts like a blanket that masks high-frequency sounds and helps us focus and concentrate.
- Pink noise: Pink noise has equal energy octaves like white noise, but it lowers its intensity as the frequency increases. White noise may sound hissy at times, but pink noise is comparatively less hissy and won’t irritate you if you are bothered about the hiss in white noise. Studies have shown that pink noise is beneficial in relieving tinnitus, commonly known as the ringing sound in the ears.
- Brown noise: Brown noise focuses more on the low frequencies. Some studies show that participants who listened to brown noise while sleeping performed better compared to people sleeping in silence or listening to other noise colors. It can help increase engagement, lower stress levels, and keep your mind focused.
Related Read: 7 Apps to Help You Sleep Better
Which noise color is the best for you?
The answer to this question lies with you. If you are new to this topic, then we would suggest you try out all the noise colors and give each one of them a go. However, do note that you should try out each noise color with a neutral mindset because what has worked for others may not work for you.
Moreover, studies have also found that any frequency can be helpful for you because the demands from person to person vary. People want to focus on certain things, and for that, there is a color. If you don’t prefer white noise or feel it irritating, then you can try out different noise colors, preferably green noise, as it has better qualities of being soothing, and natural sounds will calm your mind.
Besides noise colors, there are different types of sounds for each noise color. Meaning that there isn’t one single sound that can define green noise. You may like light rain sounds, while some may prefer the sound of the wind blowing through the forest. So, go through multiple sounds and then conclude that this green noise sound is apt for me.
One of the most important things here is to understand that different types of sounds are only substitutes for calming you down or providing you with better sleep. You should be serious about how you conduct your daily routine for your body every day. You should eat well, have a healthy life, be consistent with your sleep cycle, and have good sleep hygiene.
Which are some of the best green noise apps?
Below, we have listed some of the best green noise apps for your smartphone:
Noise Machine
It is an all-in-one app that brings your white, pink, brown, and green noise to your smartphone. You can use this app and, as per your needs, listen to the noise colors to help calm your mind and relax. All the noises are free forever, and the best part is that they come with deep green noise, super deep brown noise, and ambient white noise. The Noise Machine offers you the option of a timer that can help the sounds slowly fade away after the specified time.
Green Noise: ZenTones
Another popular app for green and other noise colors is Green Noise: ZenTones. It packs green, white, brown, and pink noises that will help you relax and focus. There are soothing tunes, then there are lush forest sounds, gentle rain showers, warm and low-frequency brown noise, whispers of pink noise, and much more.
Download Green Noise: ZenTones
Green Noise – Deep Sleep Sound
For iOS users, there is this Green Noise: Deep Sleep Sound app that brings sounds of nature to your iPhone. It will help you fall asleep faster and meditate. You can mix and match different sounds to attain the perfect soundscape for your sleeping environment. There is a fade-out feature that slowly lowers the volume of the sounds, letting you fall asleep gradually. There are multiple green noise sound categories, such as water, animal, weather, landscape, and fire.
Download Green Noise – Deep Sleep Sound
Related Read: 10 Best Games to Help You Fall Asleep
FAQs about green noise
1. Which noise is best for anxiety?
People who have anxiety are always on high alert, and they tend to overthink things. For such people, green or brown noise can help reduce the anxiety levels. For some, pink noise can also prove to be beneficial as the frequency lies between white and brown noise minus the hiss in the white noise.
2. What color noise is best for ADHD?
Research has shown that people with ADHD (Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) will have better sleep and improved concentration with white and brown noise. These noises can help minimize distractions and relax the mind for better focus.
3. What is blue noise good for?
Blue noise is another hidden noise color category. It has minimal noise frequency components, and there isn’t any spike in the energy throughout the sound. It helps mask unwanted sounds in the environment, increasing the audibility of soothing sounds. It is used for meditation and relaxation.
