Some people need complete silence to get to sleep, while others need ambient noise. If you’re in the latter category, consider using the sounds of the ocean to help you catch some z’s. Since the sound of ocean waves is normally quite relaxing when used as background noise, it can help some people feel more calm, chilled out, and able to rest more easily. But what kinds of other benefits can it offer you?

Here’s how listening to the sounds of waves crashing in the ocean can help you sleep better than ever.

What is it about ocean sounds that relaxes us so much?

If you’ve ever been curious about why the ocean elicits such calming feelings, it has much to do with how we psychologically interpret different types of noises. For example, ocean sounds are typically not as loud, intense, or threatening to our brains compared to, say, the sound of someone screaming or shouting. The sound of your alarm clock going off in the morning can also trigger this response.

Ocean noises, however, are considered non-threatening for the brain to interpret, and allows us to stay relaxed and not stay awake or be suddenly awoken by any loud, high-pitched sounds. They’re also quieter and naturally soothing, and usually only become moderately more intense at their peak.

How can it help you sleep better?

For one, it can block out noise that would other risk waking you up, particularly if you have ocean wave sounds on at a fairly high volume. Hearing the sound of waves crashing on the beach is indeed a calming feeling, and can reduce anxiety and help you nod off more easily. Ocean sounds can also be beneficial if you live in a busy neighbourhood where lots of noise can be heard, as it can help block some of that out.

Best of all, playing a sound machine of ocean waves while you sleep offers some benefits psychologically. Playing sounds like gentle ocean waves is believed to change connections within our brains, such as altering the state of our nervous system and bringing our heart rate down. That said, this is mostly the case for those who experience higher levels of stress before bed.

Looking for the best ocean sounds? We can help!

At BetterSleep, our app offers you a host of relaxing pre-bedtime sounds to choose from in our mixer. You can not only play ocean sounds on their own, but you can also mix those sounds up with other kinds of watery white noise such as rain, rivers, waterfalls, thunder, fountains, floating boats—you name it! To access these, click the “Sounds” button second from the left at the bottom of the app. Though certain sounds are ones you’ll need to pay to use, many of our BetterSleep noise mixer sounds are free. One last thing: remember to keep your phone on do not disturb during the night, otherwise your phone might wake you up from notifications that go off!