Today, more than ever before, you are surrounded by noise. Whether you live in the big city and can’t get a good night’s sleep, or in the countryside where planes still fly overhead and the television blares all day long, it’s a problem. While it’s been common in the last century to hear blaring car horns, ambulances, and television screens, it’s more of a problem now than ever. With the prevalence of smartphones and social media, it has become easy for noise to seep into our lives without pause. The constant noise of music, cars, and other media takes a toll, however. Not only does it impact your mental health, but also harms the environment and day-to-day life.
Noise pollution has become such an issue because it causes you to have difficulty concentrating. Research shows that exposure to continuous noise can adversely affect cognitive functioning in people of all ages. Even though you are probably not aware of it, you are probably being affected by noise pollution daily. Luckily, while some noise is out of your control, there are ways to lessen it, making your life less stressful and more productive.
Schedule Time In Silence
Because noise pollution is such a big issue it can be really difficult to find time to silence yourself. Noise isn’t just a problem when you’re trying to study, write or do homework. It can be any time of the day that you want to be quiet. Try to find a quiet space where you don’t have any other distractions. If you have a lounge area at your school you could try sitting in there for a while. You could also try downloading an app (there are many out there which are designed to help you find silence) to make it a little easier to schedule quiet time.
Many people will practice meditation or go on a long walk in the woods without their earbuds. Places like Japan even have specific places to “nature bathe,” which let people decompress away from the noise of everyday life. Those places have had positive effects on those who use them. That means it’s worth spending the time scouting your own quiet place and quiet time.
Reduce the Noise on Your Devices
If you are struggling to deal with noise pollution, reduce the noise coming from your devices. This noise is the noise that you can control. Many phones are equipped to measure the volume of your headphones, and can even notify you when you’ve had an unhealthy amount of noise blasting in your ears. But even then, there are lots of other ways to control the amount of noise you’re interacting with. Try to multitask less. If you’re watching TV, listening to music, and having a conversation at the same time while living in a big bustling city, you’re going to be inundated with noise! Narrow your focus down to one or two tasks. It’ll keep you from feeling overwhelmed and anxious.
Get Soundproof Windows and Doors
If you are living in a building with noise pollution issues, the next thing you should do is to get soundproof windows and doors. Especially if you live in a neighborhood full of traffic or noisy neighbors, specialized glass or a soundproof door can allow you to have a little more peace and quiet.
You could also get double-glazed windows so the soundproofing doesn’t stop before it reaches your home. There are many benefits to getting soundproof windows including the fact that they can reduce sound pollution. They can also help to keep your heating costs down since soundproofing can help to insulate the windows. When you get soundproof windows you can also opt to get them tinted to match your home or exterior better.
Place Your Furniture Strategically
You can also strategically place your furniture to reduce the noise that gets into and around your home. Use carpets and plush furniture, since the softer material will absorb sound better than hard surfaces. Place your cabinets, couches, and other furniture pieces by your walls and in places that make your rooms less echoey or susceptible to outside noise. Many people also find ways to decorate their homes with soundproof material. There are foam pads recording studios use to reduce background noise which can suit some people’s interior design aesthetics and do a lot to bring the noise level down. Overall, putting more stuff in a room not only can be maximalist but also reduce noise.
Why Should You Care?
The problem with noise pollution is that it can impact your mental health. Not only will your concentration be affected but you will also have a much harder time sleeping and staying calm when faced with stress. You can get anxious quicker, feel constantly fatigued, and even develop a sleep disorder. Even if you’re not the type to get overwhelmed by constant noise, that resilience can trick you into a false sense of security. Hearing loss due to loud music is increasingly more common, and can in itself be detrimental to daily tasks and your mental health.
In addition, noise pollution can be detrimental to the environment. While it’s not as prevalent as other kinds of pollution, loud noises have been shown to harm various animals. For example, noise from boating equipment, oil drilling, and sonar can impact dolphin echolocation. Another example is a study done on birds and caterpillars, who had fewer offspring and faster heart rates due to surrounding loud noise. While changes to your home won’t stop the sounds of large cargo ships, awareness of those issues can help you further understand the problem, and advocate on behalf of those affected.
Conclusion
The modern world faces a lot of different types of pollution. Everyone knows to look out for water or air pollution, but don’t realize that light and noise are also huge problems for the environment and people’s everyday life. Noise pollution is an invisible but ever-present problem in today’s fast-paced and loud environment. Its adverse effects are slow but serious, and it’s helpful to mitigate them where you can.
