Why Listening to Flowing Water Sounds is so Calming

Why is the Sound of a Flowing Stream So Calming?

Have you ever wondered why the sound of a flowing stream is so calming? Water has scientifically proven calming benefits that can help you relax.

Sound of flowing stream

Close your eyes and imagine the most serene and calming landscape that you can think of. What does it look and sound like? We bet that you thought of a natural scenery with the sound of flowing stream gently lulling you in the background.

Do you think that this is just a casual, unmotivated thought? Then you should think again. Science has actually proven that natural sights and sounds, such as those of streams and rivers, do have a very relaxing and peaceful effect on our minds and bodies.

But why is that, exactly? Keep on reading as we reveal this to you.

Fight or Flight? Neither: Just Relax

All throughout the history of humankind, people have chosen to retreat to quiet and tranquil places in the countryside in order to clear their minds and rest their bodies. However, it wasn’t until very recently that a scientific study from the University of Sussex determined that nature sounds affect those parts of our bodies that control our fight or flight response.

Fight or flight is an automatic response that our brains generate in situations of heightened stress and fear. While this can be, of course, vital during events that can end up being dangerous for us, most of the time we experience this during moments of anxiety or stress that present no real threat to us.

By playing a track that features nature sounds, such as water running down a stream, our fight or flight mechanism is regulated, and we feel calmer and more in control.

Sweet Dreams

It goes without saying that a natural soundscape can be very helpful to those of us who have trouble sleeping or staying asleep. If you are familiar with this, chances are that you have downloaded at least one app to aid you with getting more zzz. And each of these apps very possibly featured water sounds (rain falling, a river running, waterfalls, etc.).

Water sounds not only help us grown-ups with our sleep: they can be amazing for our little ones, too. If your child is finding it difficult to sleep well, then you should definitely try to play some water-based white noise at bedtime.

This can be particularly effective with newborns, as the gentle, calming water noises remind them of their time in their mother’s womb, where they were surrounded by the primal water: the amniotic fluid.

Listening to the Sound of Flowing Stream to Relax, Sleep, and Live Better

If you would like to sleep, relax, and ultimately lead a better and happier life, then you should definitely incorporate some water sounds into your daily routine.

The sound of flowing stream, for example, has proven scientific benefits that are linked to our fight or flight response, our ability to fall asleep, and has even associations with the amniotic fluid that surrounds babies in the womb.

Would you like to give water sounds a go today? Then head over to our Youtube channel and start relaxing now!