Do night-time noises make it impossible for you to fall and stay asleep each night? If you are one of the millions of Americans that have trouble sleeping, your electric fan may make it easier for you to fall asleep. If you keep an electric fan on as you sleep, you may be inclined to blame it for your sleeping problems. However, many times this isn’t the case. An electric fan can help block some of the nighttime noises that keep you from falling asleep. Keep reading to learn more about the effects of sleep deprivation and how your electric fan may be a helpful sleep aid.

Reasons it’s important to get a full night’s sleep:

Sleep deprivation leads to a wide range of health effects that can easily be avoided if you regularly get a full night’s rest. Here are a few side effects of chronic sleep deprivation:

  • Headaches

  • Susceptible to colds, flu and other illnesses

  • Increased risk of infection

  • Memory loss

  • Stress and anxiety

  • High blood pressure

The solution:

Getting a full night’s sleep isn’t as easy as it sounds. It can be difficult to wind down after a long day, especially if you’ve just had a late meal, had too much caffeine or are overly anxious. Once you’ve made a few lifestyle changes, you may still find it difficult to fall asleep because of too many background noises. Surprisingly, your electric fan serves as a helpful sleep aid that masks night-time sounds and makes it easier for you to fall asleep.

Is more noise good when looking for an electric fan?

Generally, most people look for the quietest fan available when they’re looking for an electric fan to use as a sleep aid. This isn’t a very good strategy, especially if you’re looking for a fan to block other noises and help you fall asleep. If you want to create white noise to mask other noises, you don’t want a fan that will create an excessive amount of noise. However, having a moderate amount of noise is good and will help you fall asleep! Almost any electric fan that’s designed for home use will provide just enough noise to help block moderate background sounds and help you get a full night’s sleep.

How your electric fan drowns out the noise:

An electric fan is perfect for creating white noise and drowning out background noise. The fan blades create a variety of frequencies as they whip through the air, which helps mask other noises. The subtle noise generated by an electric fan makes it difficult for your brain to focus on one sound or noise. If your brain can’t pick out one noise to fixate on and there isn’t another external distraction or another reason you can’t sleep, the white noise generated by your electric fan should help cancel out the disruptive sounds and allow you to fall asleep after a long day.

Noises that an electric fan helps mask:

  • Light to moderate traffic noise

  • Voices from another room

  • Night-time noises (crickets, wind rustling in the bushes, etc.)

  • General neighbourhood and apartment noises

Making your space more comfortable with an electric fan:

If you’re too hot, falling asleep can be difficult. This is especially true during the hot summer months. As an added benefit, an electric fan can help keep you cool, make your room more comfortable and help you fall asleep faster.