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In the summer months, I usually sleep with a fan (on a low setting) pointed at the bed. This is primarily to keep mosquitoes away (it works perfectly for obviou

In the summer months, I usually sleep with a fan (on a low setting) pointed at the bed. This is primarily to keep mosquitoes away (it works perfectly for obvious reasons), but the sound of it, I believe, really aids restful sleep and I often have it on even when I don't need it.

alsetmusic 9y ago
I have clinical insomnia and have relied on white noise from a fan for many years to sleep. On cold nights, I point it away from me, but always fall asleep more easily with it on the highest (loudest) setting. When I travel, I turn the bathroom fan on in hotels. The constant sound helps keep my thoughts from running rampant. On the rare occasions when I can't do either of these things, I improvise with earbuds, but the effectiveness is diminished.
- JoBrad 9y ago
  I've found audio books where the narrator has a repetitious rhythm that doesn't vary too much to also be as good as music or white noise, for the same reason.
- Turing_Machine 9y ago
  I also sleep with a fan on low, and yes, it does work. One possible mechanism is the (well-attested) phenomenon of perceptual set. Ever buy a new refrigerator? For a week or so, you'll notice the sound every time it turns on. After that, you'll never notice it again. A similar thing is going on when you notice someone saying your name at a crowded party. Your brain "tunes out" the background noise from the multiple conversations, but when your name is mentioned, you're suddenly listening to that specific conversation. At one time I lived near busy railroad tracks. For a week or two, I was getting blasted awake several times a night. After that? Didn't even hear 'em. What may be going on is that the fan noise raises the background sound level enough that minor, unpredictable sounds (wind, bugs hitting the window, whatever) that would normally trigger alertness are enough below the ambient sound threshold that your brain doesn't pay any attention to them.
agumonkey 9y ago
Low frequencies are such a zen inducing thing. Same goes for planes (minus the AC). I even add a sample of my laptop fan through a headset mic, the sound was shitty but it felt like plane sound, and I played for the calming/focus effects
- Tharkun 9y ago
  Really? I find that the noise bothers me. And even if I do manage to fall asleep with a fan on, it'll wake me up later at night and I'll have to get up to turn it off anyway.

alsetmusic 9y ago

I have clinical insomnia and have relied on white noise from a fan for many years to sleep. On cold nights, I point it away from me, but always fall asleep more easily with it on the highest (loudest) setting. When I travel, I turn the bathroom fan on in hotels. The constant sound helps keep my thoughts from running rampant. On the rare occasions when I can't do either of these things, I improvise with earbuds, but the effectiveness is diminished.

JoBrad 9y ago
I've found audio books where the narrator has a repetitious rhythm that doesn't vary too much to also be as good as music or white noise, for the same reason.
Turing_Machine 9y ago
I also sleep with a fan on low, and yes, it does work. One possible mechanism is the (well-attested) phenomenon of perceptual set. Ever buy a new refrigerator? For a week or so, you'll notice the sound every time it turns on. After that, you'll never notice it again. A similar thing is going on when you notice someone saying your name at a crowded party. Your brain "tunes out" the background noise from the multiple conversations, but when your name is mentioned, you're suddenly listening to that specific conversation. At one time I lived near busy railroad tracks. For a week or two, I was getting blasted awake several times a night. After that? Didn't even hear 'em. What may be going on is that the fan noise raises the background sound level enough that minor, unpredictable sounds (wind, bugs hitting the window, whatever) that would normally trigger alertness are enough below the ambient sound threshold that your brain doesn't pay any attention to them.

agumonkey 9y ago

Low frequencies are such a zen inducing thing. Same goes for planes (minus the AC). I even add a sample of my laptop fan through a headset mic, the sound was shitty but it felt like plane sound, and I played for the calming/focus effects

Tharkun 9y ago
Really? I find that the noise bothers me. And even if I do manage to fall asleep with a fan on, it'll wake me up later at night and I'll have to get up to turn it off anyway.