- What can you do in these cases?
The Best Source of White Noise
If you find that even the hum of your refrigerator is so distracting you can’t get to sleep, you know you need to find a way to drown it out. Some people may choose to use sound-cancelling earplugs–but
- what if you miss an important phone call or can’t hear your baby crying?
Others may turn to pharmaceutical sleeping aids–but you know you can’t take them forever. You’ve tried listening to classical music and white noise soundtracks, but you find these are just as distracting, especially if you find yourself worrying about what you’ll do when the soundtrack ends. Enter nature’s most soothing source of white noise: the sound of running water. If you think about any trip you’ve made to the ocean or a waterfall, you’ll probably remember all background noise being drowned out by the sound of the waves or stream. It’s not necessarily the volume that counts: studies show that its the rhythmic continuity as well as our innate tendency to relax at the sound of running water that allows us to focus on its soothing quality. The best part is, you don’t have to worry about it ever coming to an end.
Purifies the Air you Breathe
With an increase in air pollution and a growing awareness of the dust and bacteria released by the home appliances we can’t imagine ourselves without, indoor air quality has become a topic of much concern. Nowhere is this more apparent than on the electronics market, where air purifiers are becoming increasingly prevalent. What these loud, bulky machines do is release negative ions to attract the dirt particles and positive ions released by your refrigerator, television, and other appliances. These negative ions are also found near beaches, mountain streams, and other bodies of running water. Including indoor fountains. Not only can an indoor fountain serve the same purpose, it does so without producing the loud humming that your air purifier uses to signify that it is hard at work. Instead, you can allow yourself to relax into the sound of your fountain’s constant flow.
Restores Moisture Without Any Bacteria
If you live in an area with a winter season, you’re probably going to experience some of the seasonal dryness that becomes inevitable when you crank up your thermostat. While your heater keeps your home toasty and cozy, it also dries up most of the hydration in the air, causing you to suffer from dry skin, headaches, and discomfort in your ears, nose, and throat. For decades, humidifiers have been touted as the best way to reintroduce humidity into the air. However, studies in the past several years have found that the stagnant water in humidifiers tends to form bacteria, mold, and fungi, which are then released into the air you breathe. While vigilant cleaning may reduce these irritants, you probably don’t have the time or energy to do it every day. And you don’t need to. With an indoor fountain, you can not only restore lost moisture into the air, but you can do so without worrying about releasing irritants into the air. Because the water in fountains is constantly circulating, it doesn’t become stagnant, making it difficult for bacteria to thrive.
Proven Source of Stress Relief
There are different opinions about why we humans enjoy the sound of running water. Some say it’s a mechanism we developed back in prehistoric times, when the sound of water meant survival. Others say it’s because as embryos, we were surrounded by a sea of fluid in the womb. While these and various more theories exist, the experts at WebMD agree that the proximity to sources of running water causes biochemical reactions that increase our levels of serotonin, a “feel good” hormone. And whatever the reason, there is no doubt that the sound of waves, streams, or waterfalls are invariably found on every relaxation soundtrack. So you can rest assured that your fountain will produce a soothing cadence that melts away tension and stress and facilitates meditation and introspection.