Noise is the bad part of sound because it is unpleasant and unwanted. Although sound can make our lives that much better, noise pollution can have adverse effects. The different types of sounds that you hear on a daily basis have lasting effects on your mental and physical well being. Noise pollution is bad for your mood.
To become a listener who is more aware, pay attention to different sounds as well as how they affect your mood. There are the different ways that noises will affect your mood.
5 Ways Noise Pollution is Bad for Your Mood and How to Stop It
Noise Affects Concentration
We all hate to hear incessant sounds when trying to concentrate. Different sounds can affect focus; you just have to figure out which ones are affecting you. However, some people are comfortable working in crowded and noisy environments.
If you like to work in silence, noise can cause anger, irritability, and frustration. These emotions can cause headaches and hypertension. If you are bothered by noise in your home, you should consider installing sound-proof windows or using soundproof headphones.
Noise Affects Your Energy
The bass from a hip-hop song can help you to work out faster while a Beethoven symphony can be useful when you want to sleep. Different sounds affect your brain differently: while some sounds make you feel sleepy, others will amp up your energy levels.
Noise Affects Creativity
Although some noises are bad for your concentration, ambient noise can help you to improve your creativity. No matter how many flaws noise has, it can also inspire you greatly. Background noise catalyzes passion and excitement in artists and other people who need to be creative.
Noise and Association
While some noises might evoke good memories, others will take you to dark places. For instance, the clanging of a bell might remind you of your favorite summer camp. On the other hand, some sounds might trigger PTSD, inciting fear and sadness in those who suffer from it. You need to pay attention to the way different sounds affect you to figure out how they change your mood.
Noise and Comfort
If you listen to nature sounds before bed, you already know that sounds from nature provide relaxation. Nature sounds can quell anxiety and promote feelings of peacefulness and calmness. When you listen to such sounds in bed, you are likely to fall asleep faster.
If you are looking for different ways to reduce noise pollution in your home, here are some useful tips:
Earplugs
In most cases, the simplest solutions are the most effective. If nighttime noises prevent you from falling asleep, you should invest in a pair of earplugs. Although they do not block all the noise out, they will bring it down to manageable levels.
Soundproof your space
If your floors are hard, you should consider using rugs to dampen noise. You could also install double-pane windows to lower the noise coming from outside. If one of your neighbors is noisy, you should place a bookshelf on the adjoining wall to dampen the noise.
Mask the noise
You can mask any annoying noises by creating peaceful sounds around you. For instance, you can install a small water fountain, hang wind chimes, or turn on your fan. Doing so might seem counterproductive because it adds to the noise but it will mask the bothersome sounds.
Turn off electronics
Television sets, video games, and computers add to the noise, so you should turn them off when not in use. Doing so will help you to save money on electricity bills.
Noise pollution affects your mood in different ways and you should try to rid your home of it. You need to stick to your budget when soundproofing your home.
Image Credits: Shutterstock
Hi Corinne
Noise in the city drove me nuts. I grew up with very little noise and that was probably what made me so intolerable of loud music, especially. Noise from neighbors loud stereos, cars that insisted of blaring, thumping music. And I lived on a corner with heavy traffic that had a light, so they stayed at the intersection for a long time. I have never had quiet neighbors, at least one in the neighborhood was a pain with their loud music or barking dogs. 49 years of that and the only solution was to move to the country. It worked! The thought of having close neighbors again gives me extreme stress, so I hope that never has to happen. It is such a shame that people don’t respect other people and think they may actually be imposing on someone elses space. Had the same problem in working environment with bosses that were stupid enough to allow blaring radios on the premises. Glad those days are over with. Yes it can have huge impacts on your health. I now try to eliminate any of noise frustrations. When I hear sounds that trigger the feelings again, I try to calm myself and remember it is only a short temporary situation. Good post.
Mary
I’m a silence kind of girl in most cases. However, I have to have a fan on when I sleep. I can also fall asleep listening to my son playing his film critic. If either of those things turn off, I’m almost instantly awake. Guess I’m sort of like a baby with white noise. I’ve never figured out how people sleep with earplugs in. Ugh! Great read! Thanks for sharing.
I’m a silence kind of girl in most cases. However, I have to have a fan on when I sleep. I can also fall asleep listening to my son playing his film critic. If either of those things turn off, I’m almost instantly awake. Guess I’m sort of like a baby with white noise. I’ve never figured out how people sleep with earplugs in. Ugh! Great read! Thanks for sharing