If noise is disturbing your well-needed night rest, there are a few things you can do about it.
Unfortunately, you are not alone, some 24% of the population is having problems getting a proper night’s rest due to noise. Noise can come from outdoor sources such as entertainment venues (bar, disco, pub, etc.), traffic noise (airplanes, cars, motorbikes, trains), industrial activity (factories), etc.
Another source of noise in the bedroom can come from within your building/residence. Attached houses, as well as apartments, have neighbors that are structurally connected to your home.
The most effective solution is always to lower the sound source, this can mean that a bar or pub would install noise mitigation measures to lower the noise impact to your home, factories that adjust running hours of the noisiest sound sources, talking with your neighbors to try to better understand the noise nuisance issue and try to resolve it.
This, however, is not always possible. So if you cannot change/adjust the sound source you’re pretty much on your own. If the noise if exceeding the maximum legal values you can file a complaint with your community regulating body, they should come to measure the noise and reprimand the noise polluter.
There are not many countries in the world that have maximum noise levels enforce in homes so you could end up being on your own solving the noise nuisance problem.
If you are the owner of your home/apartment you could invest in noise mitigation measures like upgrading the glazing in your windows, soundproofing your walls, ceiling, door, or ceiling. I will describe the most effective soundproofing for residences in another post.
In the meantime, you could reside to the use of earplugs. It’s not for everybody but if it helps you to get better sleep (despite any possible inconvenience) then I would recommend it.
There are many kinds of earplugs, the ones I used with good results and for myself, no inconvenience is Mack’s earplugs, they are very affordable and effective.
If these would cause inconvenience (ears are very sensitive organs) you could try these (more expensive) superlight earplugs from Loop.
There is a huge variety available in different price ranges as well with different soundproofing levels. Typically the Noise Reduction Rating of earplugs (NRR) is measured in decibels and ranges between 20 and 34 dB. The higher the NRR value the more effective the earplugs will be to block the noise.
One of the earplugs with a very high NRR of 34 dB is the Eargasm Earplugs. They are soft, reusable. They are made of hypoallergenic plush silicone and are non-toxic and comfortable to wear all night (and even all day if you’re out in a noisy environment such as a music concert or at a noisy workplace).
