wellness Archives | Arner Adventures

The Best Sleep Sounds for Adults

On the struggle bus of insomnia, searching for the best sleep sounds for adults? Stick with us and you will be on your way to napper’s house before you can count those sheep running by.

Like us, you’re probably searching for holistic sleep aids. There are a lot of medications that could be your answer, but those tend to run their course after a while. We aren’t interested in taking medications every single night to get our Zzzs.

Sleeping is important for your health. It’s paramount for your brain function. That shouldn’t surprise anyone. Think about it! You often feel foggy the next day after poor sleep. It’s not only important to get good deep sleep, but also to know how you are sleeping.

Best Sleep Sounds for Adults — We love good sleep and good naps!

How do you do that? Well, you could go to a sleep center and have a study done. There are many centers for sleep disorders that will allow you to come in for the night while you are monitored. Many people find this process uncomfortable and have trouble falling asleep when they are not in their own bed. Having someone view your sleep patterns, not to mention, view you, while you sleep, isn’t ideal for many to improve sleep.

A simple way to monitor your sleep patterns is with a device. You can try a device like the Oura Ring, which has an app to accompany it that dives deep into your sleep patterns. This type of tracker is great for your physical health as it tracks your activity, but it is also great for your mental health. Using an app that measures not only the amount of time you are asleep, but your sleep quality is a great way to improve your sleep quality.

The Oura app shows you your sleep score by analyzing your deep sleep, REM sleep, light sleep, nightly heart rate, bedtime schedule, and more. While the Oura Ring cannot diagnose sleep apnea, it can provide statistics that would be helpful to highlight to a healthcare provider if that is something you are concerned about. You can read more about our thoughts on the Oura ring if you want deeper details!

Once you have determined sleep issues, insomnia, or the like, you want to improve sleep quality. You want to know about the best sleep sounds for adults! That is why you are here, right?

Best Sleep Sounds for Adults

One of the best ways we have found to help us go to sleep, and get quality sleep is with various sounds. Several have been beneficial, but we will list our favorites here.

432hz Relaxing Music to Sleep To – available on YouTube, this 10-hour video of sound has been a game-changer for us. We now use this music to go to sleeping bliss. The 432 Hz is said to have a healing effect on our mind, body, and emotions. You may also find the video of the ocean waves tranquil as you prepare for a sound sleepy time in your beds.

YouTube is sort of funky with their question of “are you still listening?” so if you want help getting past that and just have the music on all night, we have the solution for you.

We also love that there are no costs involved with using this resource. The downside is that your phone will need to stay in your bedroom, which we do not love, but we place it across the room so we only hear the sounds from it. No blue lights for us before bed. This is our top recommendation for the best sleep sounds for adults.

Noise Machine– there are a lot of options out there for creating the bests sounds ideal for snoozing.
Hatch Restore is the most popular and gaining traction as being the top machine of the sleeping season! Is that even a thing? It should be!

Hatch Restore is a device that you can also use as a light to read by. The light adjusts as you tailor it to your bedtime routine, lowering as you are ready for sleep. It emits white noise, nature sounds, water sounds, and many other options via its app.

We love that you can wake with natural light, very similar to a sun rising with the Hatch Restore, but we do not love the price point. Plus, the app has an annual cost associated with it. Hey, if it’s for your sleep, you may find that it is worth the purchase. Shop around, but we think that this is the best price for it. Some rank this as the best set of sleep sounds for adults.

Not into noises, but more noise lite? Try the White Noise Lite app. We love the various sound options. Our fave is the “rain on the tent”. We used the app while we were in Key West, staying at a house off of Duval in between two bars that played live music until 3 am. This works!

If white noise isn’t your thing, take a listen to brown noise. Ahh! We do love this sound. It’s like a distant ocean wave sound, much similar to what we experience where we live, but living on one floor, we don’t want to open our windows. There are some crazies out there! You could also imagine the sound to be a snowstorm in January. Take your pick!

Brown noise is a sound masking tool. It blocks external sounds that may be outside your bedroom or home, like city traffic. We love that, unlike white and pink noise, brown noise uses lower frequencies and is considered the most soothing to listen to of the noises. We don’t love that again, you may have to require your phone to stay in the room with you.

If you want to avoid apps, Mp3s, and anything having to do with your phone beside your mattress, we get it! The Yogasleep Soundcenter is an affordable sound machine, that is small and compact. This product includes white noise, brown noise, rain, ocean waves, and a calming lullaby. It also has adjustable levels.

We love that you can put your phone to bed, outside of your bedroom with this device. We also love the price point- around $20.

You probably have heard of ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response) is a tingling sensation that usually begins on the scalp and moves down the back of the neck and upper spine. It is auditory-tactile synesthesia that some people really dig.

This experience often referred to as low-grade euphoria also helps people sleep. If you respond to autonomous sensory meridian, then here is a video of ASMR sounds for you that are described as patterned triggers to help you drift off to sleep.

If it’s summer, or you have night sweats, try turning up the air conditioner. Not only will the cooler temps make you sleep better, but the sound that emits from a humming a/c can be soothing to head down to slumber town.

If you want the cool temps in your home, without the noise, the Dyson Pure Cool Fan and Purifier is rated high for reducing your overall electric bill, but it does come with a hefty price tag of around $300.

Sleep Wellness by bloggers Arner Adventures — Click for more sleep wellness tips

Other sleep tips that may be helpful to couple with the best sleep sounds for adults

Once you have your preferred sounds, we encourage you to maximize your sleeping environment. We love the Core Products Adjustable Loft Pillow. This pillow is similar to a memory foam mattress but in a cooling pillow form. You can read about our experience with the pillow if you are interested.

Speaking of mattresses, these differ by the preference of your desired firmness. Make sure that your bed and mattress are comfortable and conducive to your sleeping situation.

The type of sheets and bedding you use is also paramount to good sleep. Textures add depth and are an easy and quick way to add instant coziness to your space. We love snug fabrics such as linen, and bamboo, such as sheets from Cozy Earth. They, too, have a cooling effect. We have a Cozy Earth discount code for you below.

Coze Earth discount code by Arner Adventures — Use discount code: ARNERADVENTURES40 to save on Cozy Earth sheets.

No matter what you like to get cozy, snug as a bug in a rug, or heading to sleepyville, we hope that this list of the best sleep sounds for adults benefits you. Happy sleeping!

How effective is white noise for sleeping?

Studies have found that white noise significantly improves sleep for people who often experience difficulty due to high levels of environmental noise.

What is the optimal volume level for your sleep sound?

We have read that the best range for sleeping is between 35 to 50 decibels, not exceeding 50.

Do these recommended sounds work for babies?

We do not have children, so we recommend you contact your pediatrician for that answer. We can tell you that our pup, Betty White, does respond positively to the same sounds that we do.

In self-care wellness ·

Oura Ring vs Other Fitness Trackers-Is the Kim Kardashian Ring Really That Great?

Purchasing the Kim Kardashian smart ring but want to know the details on the Oura ring vs all the other trackers? We are digging in deep with all of the details from the Oura app, sleep tracking, readiness score, body temperature, heart rate monitoring, resting heart rate, step counter, and a lot more! So, hang in there! We’ve got you covered!

Look, I (shannon) am well versed in the land of fitness trackers. You name it, I have probably tried it. I was a Fitbit gal way back when they first came on the market. Anything that was a branded activity tracking app, I was all over it. Some people are scared of all of that artificial intelligence, not me. Me: “Oh, computer, you can tell me which way my blood is flowing currently this second? Yes, please!”

My wellness journey depends on me keeping track of everything and holding myself accountable. You can read all about my journey and how far I have come if you are interested.

In comes, the arrival of the Oura Ring in my peripheral, similarly as it did yours. Maybe it was with Kim Kardashian? Perhaps it was Gwyneth Paltrow who began sharing her health data on social media that made us both want to start looking at Oura rings. You’re here though because you want to know about the Oura ring vs all of the fitness trackers, so let’s get to it!

Oura Ring by Arner Adventures — The Oura ring comes in various color metals but the gold matches my preferred jewel tone color.

Oura Ring vs Other Fitness Trackers

Let me first give you the Oura ring spiel and why it is supposed to be different. Then, we will compare.

Oura is designed so that while you wear it, it helps you know what’s happening on the inside of your body. Once you wear it for just a few days, you begin seeing trends within the Oura app. Full disclosure, at the time of this blog post, I waited a full month before giving an honest review because I wanted my Oura ring to get to “know me” and see if it was accurate.

Here is the gist: Oura operates by giving you personalized health metrics summarized into three simple scores: Readiness, Sleep, and Activity.
The Oura ring breaks down why you feel how you feel, getting the most out of your mornings, evenings, and nights.

Now, let’s get to the comparison game. Then, I will tell you about my experience with the Oura ring.

Oura vs Fitbit

I was the Fitbit queen! You name the Fitbit version and I had it! Even when my Fitbit trackers were tracking sleep, nothing got deep the way that Oura does. Sleep affects everything. Mental clarity improved immunity, efficient work, and increased productivity, all start with sleep. Oura helps me to be able to see exactly where I am in a deficiency. Is it my breathing? Perhaps I am not getting into a deep sleep. Maybe my total sleep time is not enough. It will track my rem sleep and give me a score for that as well. I moved from the Fitbit when honestly, it couldn’t keep up with technology. Every time I got a new Fitbit, the thing would die after a year and Fitbit, while responding quickly, would never replace my tracker. They would offer me credit for their newest model.

Fitbit app image by Arner Adventures — The Fitbit app never had that much to offer compared to the Oura app.

Oura vs Michael Kors Smartwatch

I also was an owner and user of the Michael Kors Access Bradshaw, the smartwatch from Michael Kors. I loved the look of this watch, though heavy and clunky. Picture it: sweating it up with a heavy metal watching on your arm as you are having it track your activity. Ugh! So, I can speak on the Our Ring vs Michael Kors Smartwatch. I began just wearing it for the aesthetic of it, but that didn’t do me any good when it came to my wellness journey, so again, I returned to my search for the perfect activity tracker.

Oura ring vs Moto 360

I then went with the Moto 360 Smartwatch, which I adored. It was a pretty watch, with a minimal look. Though the face could be a little clunky, the band made it a bit lighter. The band, I chose white, could be cleaned if it became dirty, so the OCD in me was very pleased. The Moto 360 operated with the Google Fit app on my phone, which I love, so it was user-friendly. I can speak on the experience of the Oura Ring vs Moto 360 Smartwatch because I used this watch and the app tracker for a little over a year. I found that the tracking for my steps was not as accurate, and it most definitely did not track my breathing, sleep, or any of the other wellness factors that the Oura ring does.

Moto 360 Smartwatch by Arner Adventures — My Moto 360 was pretty but didn’t track all that I needed.

Oura ring vs Google Fit

Speaking of the Google Fit app, until my recent use of the Oura ring, I was using the Google Fit app solely for tracking my activity/steps because I had just given up on other trackers. I hadn’t seen anything I loved or was intrigued by. Being an Android gal rather than Apple, I have not used any of the Apple products, so I cannot speak on any Oura Ring vs Apple trackers or the Apple watch.

Oura ring vs Motiv

I am unable to give a comparison of the Oura ring vs the Motiv ring or other smart rings because frankly, the Motiv ring is no longer available and I could not find any comparison with other smart rings. I did search because I wanted to know about other options and honestly, did not see anything that compares.

Oura ring vs Halo Band

I have a friend who has the Halo Band. I investigated her device so that I could get an idea of the comparison for this honest review. It does have an app, similar to other fitness devices. The only tracker that I saw similar was that it tracks sleep, but even that didn’t seem to be as consistent as my tracking from Oura and most definitely not as deep with the analytics. The Halo Band is also very similar to the Whoop Strap, another fitness tracker that is Halo’s competitor. I return to the fact that Oura is head over heels better in tracking wellness, especially sleep, more than anything I have ever seen or used.

My overall experience with the Oura ring

I have found that my sleep has improved with Oura because I pay more attention to it whereas other fitness trackers, paid attention to the steps I got in and that was it. Oura Ring vs other trackers- improve sleep with Oura for sure!

With the Oura app, I am told daily what my recovery and readiness scores are. Meaning, do I need to recover from the day prior, and/or how ready am I for today? Oura ring vs all trackers- no one has told me about my recovery or readiness to start the day.

Navigating the Oura app

When I see my readiness score, it always makes sense. If there is a day when the Oura app tells me that I may need more time to recover, it is usually after a day when my activity score was very high the day before, or my sleep score was awful. With Oura’s personalized insights, you will better understand why something is off and make better habits from what you are gaining from your scores.

Each day, I wake up and I check not only how I slept, but I am able to see how much deep sleep I got, what my blood oxygen levels were, my pulse, heart rate, REM sleep, and all of the levels during the night. This is information that I can share with my healthcare provider should I see something that seems to be off.

How does Oura help me improve my wellness?

The Oura app helps with that, too. Ok, so Oura ring vs other fitness apps- sure, you gain tips from other fitness apps, but these are tailored TO YOU. You can see that they are not just general tips that go out to everyone. They explain why your heart rate variability is a certain way, why heart rate tracking is important, and why paying attention to it is necessary for certain trends.

The Oura ring is able to detect temperature and even SpO2 – the percentage of oxygen in your blood, which also flags illnesses such as a Covid-19 infection. It would have been ideal to have had this ring when I had Covid. What would my respiratory rate have been? I have asthma, so this would have been a key tool to have to measure breathing during that time. I am not an expert folks, I am simply stating that to me, this would have been a great thing to have.

Oura ring charging station

Let’s talk about the fact that the charger looks like a ring holder, except a much cooler one, but it charges super quickly. I usually put my ring on it when I am washing dishes, although it can get wet, I just do it anyway. I was worried about the heart rate sensor getting wet or messing up the technology at first, but it doesn’t seem to be an issue according to Oura. My battery has never died. Other trackers, died all the time. Oura ring vs other chargers: the Oura charge wins, hands down!

Oura ring style

The Oura ring has several options in relation to metal colors: silver, black, stealth, and gold. Gold jewelry is my metal of choice, so I opted for gold. I wanted it to blend with my other jewelry since I would be wearing it all the time. From my experience, Oura has been fabulous. There is a minimalist feel to wearing a ring. I wear mine on my pointer finger on my left hand. My ring never gets in the way. It will rarely get dinged or banged around. I am right-handed so it’s not worn on my dominant hand.

SHOP FOR YOURS HERE

How long does the Oura ring battery last?

I mentioned that my battery has never died, but I usually get a notification on the fourth or fifth day after a brief charge that I need to place it on the charger, and I wear mine all the time. So, it lasts a LONG TIME.

Is the Oura ring worth it?

It is totally worth it! I forget that I have it on, which has never been the situation with any tracker or fitness device, but not just that, it gives me wellness tracking for key factors in my body that I have never been able to track. Having experienced just about every tracker on the market, the Oura ring is worth every penny due to the capabilities of the ring itself, and the app that comes along with it.

Can you use the Oura ring without the membership?

Absolutely! You will still have access to the Oura app, it just limits some of the added benefits. Bonus, when you purchase the Oura ring, it includes 6 months of the membership for free, so you can test it out and see if it is worth it to you.

Arner Adventures Wellness Journey — Read more about our wellness journey!

Disclaimer- This blog post only represents our opinions. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content is for informational purposes only. Because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions or advice. Please see the terms and conditions for more information.

In mental health self-care wellness ·

Summer Self-Care Check-in: Checklist Included

Ever since we were young, summer is the season we all look forward to. We all remember counting down the days until summer break. It is still our favorite season, but with it comes high expectations. We thought we would create a summer self-care check-in. It’s a good time to have a pulse check for not only our physical health but our mental health. While comparisonitis is in full swing, we want to remind you that summer self-care is important. Also, checking in with yourself can be done any time of year.

To make this easy, we put this in a checklist format. We love when things are made simple.

Summer Self-Care Check-in Checklist

Try saying that a few times, quickly. 🙂

Get outside. We cannot say this enough. Getting outside just helps you reset. Whether you are working from home during the day, or just spending time inside too much, be sure you take time to be outside. This does so much for your mental and physical health. If you want a fun and easy way to get outside, try our free Get Outdoors Challenge. Nothing says summer self-care like going outside for a bit.
Start a meditation practice. We know. You may be reading this and are rolling your eyes, but trust us. If we can do it, you can do it. You can start with a simple meditation that we do. It is quick and easy and walks you through five easy steps to calm your mind. You can grab it here.
Start a gratitude practice. Whether you can see the good things in your life to be grateful for or not, even if you can just recognize one thing each day to be grateful for, you will find that this practice helps reduce stress. Sometimes just the ability to breathe is something to be grateful for, and that is ok. You can use a journal, or you can use an app like the Gratitude: Self-Care Journal.
Bring on the summer songs! We have a fabulous summer playlist if we do say so ourselves! You can listen to it here. You can also create your own playlist. Music is a great way to care for yourself, especially if it creates good vibes and makes you want to move and dance! Upbeat and happy is best for the summer self-care beats!
Get moving! The way we love to get moving is on our bikes in the summer! We love riding our Schwinn electric bikes, which makes it where we can pedal and get exercise and also use the throttle and just sort of glide along if we want to let it take us for a ride. We highly recommend these! Plus, they are really cool looking! Here is Shannon’s and here is Gerry’s.

Schwinn e-bike coupon code — We love scooting around in the summer on our Schwinn e-bikes. Save $150 on your e-bike (Coston DX and CE models) with code: ARNER150

Cultivate your own at-home spa day. Listen, going to a fancy spa is luxurious, but it also takes time to fit into your schedule and it is pricey. Keep it low-stress and DIY it. We have all you need right here. You know it wouldn’t be the proper spa day without the playlist to accompany it.
Dine al fresco! Similar to getting outside, dining outdoors has its own benefits. It is thought that we slow down when we eat outdoors. We tend to slow our chewing process, which makes the entire process of digestion healthier for our bodies. Not only that, but we get to take in nature, which is always better for us. Have a picnic, set up your dining table outdoors, or go to a restaurant, and ask to sit outside while you dine.
Eat fresh fruit and veggies from the summer season. You can do this from your own garden, or you can grab these from your local farmer’s market. Not only are these seasonal produce foods yummy, but they are healthier for you.

Summer self-care — There is no better taste than in-season veggies, especially when you grew them yourself!

Get in or near water. If you are a longtime reader/follower of this blog, this isn’t new to you. We LOVE being near water. If you are new here, let us tell you that being near or in water is healing. It is why we moved to live near it. Your mind, body, and spirit are affected in a positive way by water. If you can go for a swim, wade in a body of water, or even sit by it, do that this summer. Your self-care routine can be meditating by the water or simply gazing at it.
Declutter your home and your mind. Most people think of decluttering at the beginning of the year, but mid-year is a great time to reassess your stuff and the things that weigh your mind down. We have a declutter challenge that walks you through easy, daily prompts for 30-days to declutter the things that you may not need anymore, but also rid of negative thoughts and create positive habits in your life.

Just remember that summer is all about what you want it to be. Don’t spend time comparing your summer to someone else’s. Make this summer all about self-care, or sand between your toes, popsicles, or a backyard blow-up pool! Whatever floats your boat, that is what it’s all about!