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Sleep Well – On the Road or at Home!

January 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

How well to you rest while traveling? Do you find yourself disturbed by the new and strange sounds at night? What about your productivity while traveling for work? Can you concentrate in a new environment, with new distractions?

My husband recently returned from a two-day trip for a conference. The lectures were great, and he enjoyed the networking. However, he found it was difficult to be productive during his down time because of the distracting conversations around him, and that he did not sleep well at night due to the strange sounds of a new city. He would have really appreciated bringing a personal white noise machine.

If you have never tried a sound machine, here are some practical uses that could benefit you:

Work – Did you know that the average person loses up to two hours of productivity because of distractions? This can be true whether you are traveling or sitting in your office. There are constant conversations and interruptive sounds that scream for your attention throughout the day. Portable white noise can cover those distractions and help you focus on your work.

Sleep – Do annoying sounds, such as a barking dogs or loud music, ever keep you from sleeping soundly? White noise (or other relaxing sounds, such as a thunderstorm or babbling brook ) can mask the interruptive sounds, giving you better sleep in spite of extra street noise, or unfamiliar hotel sounds while traveling. The result is a more refreshing sleep at home or on the road.

Relaxation – On a peaceful Sunday morning, while reading the paper and sipping coffee, the last thing you want to hear is annoying car horns on the street or the neighbor’s dog chasing a squirrel. Imagine, instead, how relaxing it would be to drown out that noise with the sounds of waves crashing on the shore or peaceful chimes blowing in a soft wind.

Personal white noise helps eliminate distractions and create a more peaceful environment. This can increase your productivity at work, or provide you with a more restful night’s sleep. Give this amazing technology a trial run to discover if you can appreciate the benefits of improved concentration and better sleep!

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Use a Sound Machine to Reduce Distractions at Work

January 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Do you find yourself constantly distracted at work? Are you frustrated by how long it takes to do tasks because you just keep getting  interrupted?  Have you talked to your boss about it, but not gotten much, if any, help?

If this is the situation you find yourself in, I would encourage you to try using a white noise machine at your desk. Unlike music, it doesn’t divert your attention at all from what you are supposed to be concentrating on. What it does is drown out background noise so that you can focus on what you are doing, instead of trying to concentrate through the office drama of “what Jimmy said to Sally after this crazy thing happened.” Even better, studies show that it can help you focus better and feel less stressed. Studies have found that offices that utilized white noise showed an average of 48% improvement in their ability to focus on tasks, a 51% improvement in elimination of distractions (especially overheard conversations), and a 27% improvement in lowered stress levels.

A small portable option for a white noise machine is the Sound Oasis Travel White Noise Therapy System. I like to think of this as the Mighty Mouse of the sound machines. It is tiny in stature, but can beat up all the big distractions keeping you from doing what you are supposed to be doing–working. Even better, since its portable, you can take it home with you to help you get better sleep at night.

If you don’t want a portable option, the Sound Oasis Deluxe Office White Noise System is a nice option. Its not as small as the travel sound machine, but it does have a lot more features, including 20 main sounds & 5 mix sounds create 120 sound environment possibilities.

If you aren’t convinced and would just like to try it out, you could try a free online white noise generator. Just keep it open in a background browser window and you’ll be well on your way to working–without as much distraction and stress.

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White Noise for London

August 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London!

A few weeks ago, my family of 4 and my in-laws went to London for a few days.  We got a cheap flight on EasyJet from Aberdeen to Luton and then hopped a Greenline bus to Victoria Station.  From there, we took a short train to Clapham and walked to a family member’s flat.  As usual, it was a lot of prep work, but ended up being a very inexpensive way to stay in London for 4 nights!  It saved us enough money to be able to do some shopping, eat well, and even see Wicked!  I highly recommend the trip, as London is not a city you’ll want to miss!

White Noise

However, you may have noticed I mentioned my family of 4- that includes a 2 and a 4 year old.  This trip was their first time to share a room…um, yea.  I was stressed about it, but there was not a lot we could do- after all, 6 of us were staying in 1 flat!  We were blessed to have the space we did have!  So, even though we only got a small carry-on for the flight, I was sure we packed 2 white noise generators, as we always do, no matter luggage restrictions!  Sleep is priceless to us, so I would rather re-wear the same clothes than go without white noise.

And, as a matter of fact, those bad boys did the trick again!  Even though my son was up crying quite a bit of the first night, my daughter slept right through it!  And, when he had settled, we were able to turn our generator on at a low level, which enabled us to do several things:

  1. hear him if he needed help
  2. keep our windows open for ventilation but not be kept awake by the night life outside

Once again, white noise, I love you!!  Thank you for being effective and portable!

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2 Tips for Enjoying Your Next Hotel

July 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Hotels

When you think of a hotel, what comes to mind?

  • Room service?
  • Vacation?
  • Time off?
  • Relaxation?
  • Business Trip?
  • Time working?
  • Stress?

Tips for a Pleasant Hotel Stay

For me, it doesn’t matter why I go to a hotel.  Whether it’s business or pleasure, it’s all about the sleep.  If the room is quiet and I can sleep, then I am happy to be there.  If not, then I am not.  It’s as simple as that.  I have had loads of good and bad experiences away from home, and the main lesson I’ve learned is to plan ahead.

  • When I make a reservation, I ask for a room at the end of the hall, off the street, and away from the elevator.  That way few guests walk past my room and ambient noise is dispelled.
  • I also pack portable white noise just in case.  It may be the next door guests watching TV (or doing Lord knows what else), or it may be as close to home as a snoring spouse, but with a little white noise, I protect my sleep.

Whether making a sales pitch or vacationing, good sleep is non-negotiable.  By planning ahead, you can ensure you protect your rest.

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The Truth about GPS & White Noise

July 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment

2 Types of People

I’ve had some interesting conversations recently that have led me to believe that there are two types of people.  {Actually, I am quite sure there are many more types than that, but discussing them would ruin this post.  Fair enough?}  Back on topic- there are two types of people.  Techies and tech-snobs.  Take me- I used to be a tech-snob.  I was sure there was a “right” way of doing things, a more natural, organic way that didn’t involve technology.  I was sure I didn’t need a typing class in high school {There were several attractive members of the opposite sex in the computer class that typing was a pre-req for.  Taking typing meant I had to drop the class with the cute boys.  To this day I hint and peck….I’ll let you guess what choice I made.} Case in point- think of Meg Ryan in You’ve Got Mail.  She had the cute little book shop and refused a computer in lieu of a type-writer.  That’s a tech-snob.  Purists.  {In their minds anyway}.

I said I was a tech-snob.  What changed?  I married and electrical engineer.  I should have known my tech-aversion was doomed when my husband-to-be started making spreadsheets to keep track of our registry.  Little by little, my husband wore me down and I now embrace technology as a help rather than a hindrance.

Two of my favorite tech-devices are GPS/Sat Navs and white noise generators.  We use both on a weekly, if not daily basis- for travel to new places and for sleep {in strange places and for the kids not to hear each other}.  This has drawn not a little attention from our nosey friends, who, if you must know, fall into 1 of 2 categories: techies or tech-snobs.  All the techies have also purchased Sat Navs  and sound machines and the tech-snobs are purists, sure that these devices defy nature and the way things are supposed to be.  They’ve brought up a few concerns I’d like to address:

  • GPS/Sat Navs make you forget how to use a map.  This is ridiculous.  The main advantage Sat Navs have is helping you not get lost.  Whether it’s a clear map or a recalculation based on a wrong turn,  a GPS doesn’t erase your memories or abilities.  If you’d rather suck it up on a too-large, impossible to fold map in the car and get lost a lot, then more power to you.  But you’re not a purist- you’re a glutton for punishment.
  • White noise generators just make more noise and make it to where you can’t fall asleep without them. I can only speak for my family, but we started using white noise because we were having trouble sleeping.  Now we don’t.  Plus, neither of my children struggles to sleep without white noise.  I use it to block their own noise from each other, but they are fine without it.

Lastly, if anyone is worried about not having a GPS or a sound machine on hand, I’d like to remind everyone how small and easily portable both devices are.  Even on incredibly restrictive flights, we’ve never had a problem packing either or toting them to a friend’s house.  Just sayin’…

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Places You WISH Would Install Sound Masking

May 7, 2010 By 1 Comment

I was in my kitchen cutting vegetables for that night’s dinner as both of my children were loudly playing behind me. My kitchen tends to be very ‘echo-y’ as there are 10 foot ceilings, ceramic tile on the floor, and not much of anything to absorb sound (besides my always present pile of laundry waiting to be washed). I was musing about how I wish my landlord would install sound masking in there, when I started to think of other places that would benefit from some sound masking.

Places I Wish Would Install Sound Masking

  • A little sound masking would be nice.

    Public bathrooms. It’s the worst when there are only two stalls, so you are sitting right next to each other with only a thin partition between you. Can anyone say ‘stage fright’? It gets even worse if for some reason you get caught out with an upset stomach. (Is it only me that has waited embarrassed inside my stall until the other person has washed their hands and then left before exiting?) I would most definitely appreciate a little sound masking in that situation.

  • Dressing rooms. Do I really want people to hear me as I talk to whomever I went shopping with if this particular pair of pants makes my derrière look large? No. And I don’t want to hear them discussing how awesome they look in some tiny swimsuit . Or hear me weeping when I try on a swimsuit. Dear department stores everywhere: please install sound masking. This would especially apply to places like Victoria’s Secret.
  • Waiting rooms. Its always so awkward when the only sound is the turning of magazine pages as you surreptitiously glance around and wonder why everyone else is there and if they are contagious. It is even worse if you brought someone along for moral support to your appointment. I always feel like I have to speak in a hushed whisper. Even a little bit of sound masking would help with the dead silence. The flip side of that is if you work in a reception area like that so the only sound is you answering the phone and speaking with your coworkers. Also awkward. (And a potential HIPAA violation, I might add.)
  • Funeral home. Its already a bad situation if you are needing to go to a funeral home, but the hushed whispers and sniffing from people crying during the calling hours can make it almost unbearable. Some well placed background sound (that is NOT elevator music) would be greatly appreciated.

Magic Sound Masking Key Chain

I was also pondering how a white noise key chain could provide lots of benefit. For example, you get behind a person on the bus who is discussing some matter on their phone that you are not interested in. I could pull out my white noise key chain and envelope my space in that nice peaceful sound. (I think what I am really wanting is a magic key chain!) Or how about when you get around some potty mouth person when you have your kids with you. “Children, employ the white noise now, please.” Magically, they would not be able to hear those words as they sit peacefully while the white noise rushes around them, protecting their delicate ears.

So the technology isn’t there yet (and I doubt it ever will be!) but there are portable white noise machines. Perhaps I should just solve all my own problems and hang ups and just carry one with me wherever I go. So if you are ever out and hear some nice white noise surrounding a lady and her two kids, that’ll be me. Just smile politely, please.

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The truth about white noise

April 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Scotland

Isle of Skye, off the west coast of Scotland

We currently live in Scotland (though we’re Texans by birth) and we recently traveled to the Scottish west coast through the Cairngorm Mountains and even across to the Isle of Skye.  First, it was a great trip and the view while driving was breathtaking.  I would highly recommend this trip if it’s feasible for anyone.

That said, we had interesting hotel situations.  It was the 4 of us (my husband, myself, and our 2 small children), as well as my mother.  My mom is a huge believer in white noise, too, in that she and my dad work from home and sometimes keep the grandkids.  They don’t want to hush their clients or not be able to make necessary phone calls juts because the babies are sleeping in the next room.  Therefore, they use white noise to cover such sounds in order to be productive and allow the children to sleep peacefully.  As a result, we packed 3 portable white noise generators, one for each room in the lodge we would be staying at.  Several humorous white noise misunderstandings took place that prompted me to write this post.

The truth about white noise

  1. White noise covers most sounds, but not all.  If you were (hypothetically) coughing like a banshee right outside the door of your grandchild’s room, he or she will probably still hear it and possible start crying.  Hypothetically speaking, of course.
  2. When you turn on a white noise generator in 1 room, it does not magically work for other rooms, too.  White noise treats the area immediately around it.  That’s why we brought 3 generators- 1 for each room.  Therefore, to say something like, “I’m sure they won’t hear me banging around in the kitchen or slamming doors because we have 3 white noise generators running” is ludicrous.

So, bottom line- white noise is awesome.  It covers the usual, run-of-the-mill noises and neutralizes many louder sounds so that they are not as intrusive.  This is particularly helpful when trying to focus at work.  However, when implementing white noise for sleep (and especially for children who are apt to feel like they are missing out on all the fun), it’s wise to pair it with less noise on your part, too.  Your goal is to minimize the racket in every way possible, including your own tinkering around. While you should be able to watch TV, have a conversation in a normal voice, or make a phone call, there’s no reason to cough out your lung or a slam a door when common sense says not to.

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Why You Need Portable White Noise

April 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

White Noise Revelation

It's important to get a small, portable generator so it's not a stressful addition.

I have posted several times about using white noise for travel.  I’m not really sure how I ever lived without my trusty, portable white noise generator.  We never actually used white noise until we had children and started getting annoyed at barking dogs or loud neighborhood children waking them prematurely.  The first white noise we used was a fan.  It did the trick of covering problem noises, but presented several new problems:

  1. It was large and heavy, and therefore cumbersome to carry around, let alone pack in the car with all the suit cases and other essentials, such as the actual children and car seats, etc.
  2. It was unsafe.  Even though I trained my daughter not to touch the fan, I was constantly worried about her curious little fingers.  Plus, after reading about how Mike Tyson’s daughter accidentally strangled herself on the cord of an elliptical machine, I was nervous about cords.

Why you Need Portable White Noise, too

So, we invested in good, portable white noise generators.  Here’s what they bring to the table (or a hotel room, for that matter):

  1. They are small and weigh virtually nothing.  Thus, they are easy to pack and hardly take up any precious baggage space (which is important since airlines have severely limited what you can bring for free).
  2. They can be plugged in or can operate on batteries.  So, if you’re worried about safety, you can eliminate any cord use.
  3. Obviously, they cover noise.  So, wherever you are, you are not held captive to ambient noise.  This can be clutch, especially if you’re by the elevator or below partiers in a hotel- or anywhere in a Latin-American or UK or European hotel the night of a soccer game.  Yikes.  Been there and didn’t sleep because it was before my white noise revelation.  Tragedy.

Portable, reliable white noise generators are honestly one of the best investments we’ve ever made.  In fact, we have 3- 1 for each bedroom.  And they are the first things we pack, no matter where we go.  (And we go a LOT of places).

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