I would take my headphones with me anywhere and everywhere!
Sleep time is no exception. I usually listen to podcasts on my headphones before sleep and dozed off often. Using that experience, I will let you know How to Sleep with Headphones Comfortably.
Stay tuned to get into details of sleeping with headphones, headphones that work the best for bedtime, and many more tips and strategies to maximize your sleep with headphones.
Why Sleep with Headphones?
People use headphones for various reasons at bedtime. Some use them while watching series, others for entertainment. However, another group of the population uses headphones as sleeping aids. These people are battling with a good night’s sleep and use headphones for audio stimulation that helps them calm their minds and go to sleep easily.
Sleep and Quality of Life
Sleep disturbance is one of the most common health issues that impact overall life quality. About one-third of the adult population experience some sleep-related disturbance.
Lack of sleep for a long time causes a disastrous impact on daily living activities.
To avoid this, people do all sorts of things. From meditating to noise therapy, they usually do all that’s possible for them. Calming music, white noise, and audiobooks all help in falling asleep, and the headphones act as a sleeping aid. But the real challenge is keeping headphones on till you are sound asleep.
Audio Stimulation and Sleep
Using headphones as a non-pharmacological approach to remedy sleep disturbance is widely practiced by adults. I often listen to different types of noises, white, pink, and brown, for various purposes. After a hectic day, I like to put on Binaural beats to induce deep sleep. On the other hand, white noise helps block out environmental sounds like the loud closing of doors, the barking of a neighbor’s dog, etc.
Sometimes, when I notice that I have not been getting proper sleep, I like to practice guided meditation via my headphones to relax my mind, heart, and body. Audiobooks and podcasts also help to redshift focus from anxious thoughts and ease into sleepiness.
How to Sleep with Headphones Comfortably
Audio does make it easy for me to fall asleep, but wearing headphones while sleeping was not as comfortable for me initially as it is now. For sleeping with headphones to be a comfortable experience, you need to choose the right headphones. Some headphones, based on their build and composition, are good for bedtime, and others aren’t suitable to put on while lying in bed.
Now, I am going to analyze various types of headphones. Read on to know which headphones are practically built to put on while sleeping.
In-Ear Headphones – Low-Profile Wireless Earbuds
In-ear headphones are quite popular these days because of their compactness and immersive audio experience. But are they fit for sleeping? Let’s get into the pros and cons of in-ear headphones for sleeping
| PROS | CONS |
| ➕ Good for blocking external noise | ➖ cause ear pain for side sleepers |
| ➕ No pressure overhead | ➖ prone to ear infection |
| ➕ Are compact, lightweight, not bulky | |
| ➕ Delivers immersive music for versatile audio domains ASMR, guided meditations, white noises, etc. | |
| ➕ Easy to travel with |
Considerations:
- Regularly clean your earbud tips to reduce ear infections.
- Choose sleep-specific in-ear models with low-profile designs. Prefer with a flatter shape to reduce ear pain/pressure while lying on the side.
- Select in-ear headphones with memory foam tips to reduce pressure inside the ear canal and minimize the chances of the ear getting numb.
Caption: Soundcore Sleep A20 Noise Blocking Sleep Headphones
Over-Ear Headphones
Over-ear headphones are a good option for people who sleep on their backs. These headphones stay over the ears completely, reducing any discomfort inside the ears.
The only catch is that you can’t lay on the side when wearing these. Occasionally, I felt pressure on my head due to the headband, so it is really important to watch for headband quality and size for ease of use at night.
✅ Good immersive Audio with sound isolation options.
❌ Bulky, pressure on head with prolonged use
Tip: Use memory foam pillows that have ear cutouts. These can help with sleeping on the sides. Otherwise, soft pillows are a must to sleep with headphones.
Sleep Headbands Best For Sleep with Headphones
Not every headphone can be used for sleeping, sleep-specific headphones must be your number 1 choice for audio therapy protocol for sleep. Why?
These answers to every difficulty you face with regular headphones at bedtime. Those headphones are built for entertainment and communication, when used for sleeping, they cause discomfort. Sleep-specific headphones are soft and cozy, perfect for good sleep.
✅ Suitable option for side sleepers
✅ Appropriate audio quality
✅ Use soft fabric wrapped around speakers. It brings comfort and ease of wear.
✅ There is no stingy pressure on the head and ears, and they are lightweight
✅ Reduced risk for ear infections
TIP: Introduce the use of headphones into the bedtime routine gradually.
Taking care of your Headphones
- Use alcohol wipes regularly to clean your headphones.
- Replace worn-out parts for comfortable use (earbud foam, etc.)
- Store properly after usage to avoid damage
- Do not expose to extreme conditions ( avoid overheating)
Other Considerations for Better Sleep with Headphones
- Select the audio type that maximizes sleep probability, such as natural sounds and guided meditatioaudioos.
- To avoid listener fatigue, engage in healthy listening practices.
- Pair the use of headphones for sleep with environmental cues for sleep. Your room must facilitate audio therapy to induce sleep. There should be limited light exposure, temperature shouldn’t be on the extreme sides, and you must lay comfortably.
- Set sleep timers to reduce over-exposure to sounds. (use in-app controls)
- Develop a habit of monitoring your sleep quality and duration. Based on it, adjust your headphones and audio content for better results.
- Incorporate other modes of sleep hygiene (relaxation techniques, mindfulness, etc.)
- Seek advice from healthcare professionals for swift sleep management.
Alternatives to Headphones for Sleep
If headphones for sleep do not work for you, consider other sleeping aids.
The most popular non-headphone sleeping aids are white noise machines, pillow speakers, and smart speakers (Alexa, etc.). These sound-delivering systems have low chances of ear infection and ear discomfort.
Closing Remarks
“Music is a low-cost, accessible, and effective treatment for insomnia.” Said Jesse Koskey, a psychiatrist who deals with adults with various sleep-related issues.
Headphones are best for this music therapy at sleep time without disturbing others around you. To sleep with headphones comfortably, you need to figure out your sleeping habits and choose headphones based on your evaluation of your sleeping preferences. Sleep-specific headbands are a frequent choice for most people with sleep concerns. However, multiple good options are available in bone-conduction and in-ear headphones. Whatever you choose, I wish you a happy night’s sleep!
I am Michael a Texas-based recording engineer and sound enthusiast. I contribute to Headphones Pedia’s efforts to educate readers about intriguing new devices and other audio-related issues by drawing on their experience working on several sound projects. I also use AI tools to assist with content creation.
