Challenging Myself: 4 Days of Sound Therapy
We use music to hype ourselves up, white noise to focus, and certain sounds to relax. What if we were more intentional about it? Join me over the next 4 days as I try different sound therapies!
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about how sound affects our mental state.
We use music to hype ourselves up, white noise to focus, and certain sounds to relax; Josh listens to music before every podcast episode, and it usually seems to vary based on his mood.
It got me thinking… what if we were more intentional about it?
Over the next few days, I’m going to experiment with different types of sound therapy.
I’ll try things like nature sounds, binaural beats, ambient music, and guided meditations.
I’ll give each one a fair shot, see how they impact my mood, and share what actually helps versus what just feels like background noise.
No pseudoscience, no wellness guru nonsense—just an honest look at how sound interacts with mental wellness.
Day 1: Nature sounds
What it does
Nature sounds, like rain, ocean waves, and forests, are often used to reduce stress and create a sense of calm.
Some people swear by them for relaxation, focus, or sleep.
What I expect to get out of it
I want to see if these sounds actually help me unwind or if they just make me want to nap.
Do they help with focus, or do they just fade into the background?
Day 2: Binaural beats
What it does
Binaural beats use different frequencies in each ear to supposedly enhance focus, relaxation, or even sleep.
The idea is that your brain syncs to the frequency difference, influencing your mental state.
What I expect to get out of it
I’m skeptical but curious.
Can specific frequencies actually change how I feel, or is this just an overhyped placebo?
Day 3: Ambient & instrumental music
What it does
Different genres of instrumental and ambient music can influence mood; classical music is said to boost brain function, while drone music can be deeply meditative.
What I expect to get out of it
I’ll explore different styles and see if any of them actually affect my mood or focus in a noticeable way.
Day 4: Guided meditations & sound baths
What it does
Guided meditations use voice and music to lead mindfulness exercises, while sound baths involve deep, immersive tones from instruments like singing bowls.
Both are said to help with relaxation and mental clarity.
What I expect to get out of it
Will these actually help with mindfulness, or will I just get distracted?
Do they feel immersive or just like someone whispering at me?
I’m curious to see if any of this makes a real difference or if it’s just another wellness trend. (This one will be interesting, for sound baths, I’m hoping some AirPods Max and a high quality audio of someone playing a singing bowl can help out, cause I definitely don’t have any singing bowls.)
It’s that simple!
Just me, headphones, and a lot of mindfulness.
Keep watch; I’ll let you know how each day goes!
If you’ve ever used sound to calm your mind or improve your mood, let me know what worked for you.
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