I've been using a mix of nature sounds to help fall asleep for years. If I'm having a particularly rough night, I'll play some repetitive calm music I'm super familiar with as well, EQ'd to just be barely audible through the nature sounds. ADHD brain uses all the extra energy that would be keeping me up spinning ideas around to tune one or the other of the "two" audios out and I'm out pretty quick.
I use a version 1.3.3 of an app from F-Droid, Noice, for the nature sounds. Later versions added premium features and load the audio from a remote server. That's the last version with everything local.
PowerAmp for the music. Took the "Soft" EQ preset to keep any "sharp" sounds from coming through and lowered the overall volume of it, then applied it to a specific "chill/sleep" playlist I made.
Both apps have sleep timers so they can shut off automatically after a set time.
Have you ever listened to field recordings? It's a genre of audio recordings that include nature sounds. Bandcamp has a wide selection, sounds like you'd be interested.
Oh, I'll check that out! Part of why I like the Naturespace recordings so much is that many are straight field recordings. There used to be an iOS ap called Ambiance that had the ability to record and share one's own soundscapes. there were thousands of files available to download through the app and it was maintained until Apple dropped the 32-bit downloads from the AppStore. I got the best ones I could and have it still on a handful of older devices. Got to crack it open at some time and excise the sound files as it's only a matter of time before the devices get spicy pillows and fail.
My immediate assumption is that any observations made by me are meaningless noise and that I should avoid making them unless I see something really weird. But that could also be a problem because then it looks like shiny Caterpie is really common in this area while the regular one is rare. Do you know what behavior the creators of the app prefer?
The main thing seems to be honesty about your observations (if you're unsure of an ID, note that) and be available for comments and corrections on your posts.
My brain just automatically supplied "hour" 48 hour cookies. (You make the dough then chill it in the fridge for a couple days to make the flavor change.)
I read it as 48-hour chocolate chip cookies. I make those often actually. I find with my recipe especially the 48-hour rest really helps the cookies flavor. It's been fun. Experimenting.
I think part of the problem is we've really perfected computers to where they're overly-effective entertainment machines. You can play games that suck you in for hours on end, you can watch videos and movies on any topic. Hour long video essays on isoteric and ultimately unimportant topics. 2-10 second videos each delivering laughs, cultural experiences and information, all queued up to watch one after another so you've watched 10 unrelated videos in a minute. And if that's not enough stimulation now it's becoming common practice put an unrelated video on part of all of the screen so you don't have to get worried about being bored for a few seconds. Pepper the video with split second clips from popular shows or movies for an added laugh and remembering the reference fondly and you've got a recipe to never be bored for a single second.
We've defeated boredom and it shows. Now we as a society have to learn why being bored is good again, why our brains need some boredom so that everything else can have meaning.
People need to relearn how to go make stuff. Read books, read magazines, play instruments, ride bikes and skateboards and run and jump and have fun away from screens. I think this is a growing trend as people realize how bad for us these dopamine drips that are fed to us on our phones, computers, game consoles, etc. the rise of products and services to add friction to accessing our computing devices, the resurrection of feature phones, phones with intentionally boring screens to discourage use, etc.
I've tried this and part of the problem is if you're already tired, being bored doesn't suddenly make you capable of doing more, now you're just tired and bored. It's better in the long term because the times you might not be tired you'll be more willing to do things instead of the instant dopamine activities, but I'm not sure if that's worth all the time spent being super bored.
My point was less "do nothing" but rather "do things other than stare at screens for entertainment" with a touch of "be mindful of what you're doing when you do stare at your screen for entertainment"
37 Comments
foodandart@lemmy.zip · 34 pts · 257d
NGL, in a pinch get a good nature sound app and pop in the earbuds and just crash out on the sofa and listen.
I have been using one called Naturespace for a decade and it's glorious. Best track is called The Imaginarium. Whoa.
wizardbeard@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 8 pts · 257d
I've been using a mix of nature sounds to help fall asleep for years. If I'm having a particularly rough night, I'll play some repetitive calm music I'm super familiar with as well, EQ'd to just be barely audible through the nature sounds. ADHD brain uses all the extra energy that would be keeping me up spinning ideas around to tune one or the other of the "two" audios out and I'm out pretty quick.
I use a version 1.3.3 of an app from F-Droid, Noice, for the nature sounds. Later versions added premium features and load the audio from a remote server. That's the last version with everything local.
PowerAmp for the music. Took the "Soft" EQ preset to keep any "sharp" sounds from coming through and lowered the overall volume of it, then applied it to a specific "chill/sleep" playlist I made.
Both apps have sleep timers so they can shut off automatically after a set time.
Cracks_InTheWalls@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 255d
Gonna just let people know about MyNoise, tons of sound generators and most of the nature ones are made with field recordings.
nuggsy@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 255d
Thanks for this. This is fantastic!
foodandart@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 255d
Thank you, wil definitely check this out!
Venus_Ziegenfalle@feddit.org · 2 pts · 256d
I do the same but with real nature audioscape tracks people put on youtube. Creeks and blackbirds especially.
edg@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 255d
Have you ever listened to field recordings? It's a genre of audio recordings that include nature sounds. Bandcamp has a wide selection, sounds like you'd be interested.
foodandart@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 255d
Oh, I'll check that out! Part of why I like the Naturespace recordings so much is that many are straight field recordings. There used to be an iOS ap called Ambiance that had the ability to record and share one's own soundscapes. there were thousands of files available to download through the app and it was maintained until Apple dropped the 32-bit downloads from the AppStore. I got the best ones I could and have it still on a handful of older devices. Got to crack it open at some time and excise the sound files as it's only a matter of time before the devices get spicy pillows and fail.
edg@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 254d
What a great idea for an app.
justOnePersistentKbinPlease@fedia.io · 15 pts · 257d
Birdwatching: get and support the Merlin app. Its a great way to find out what birds live or pass through your area.
marduk@lemmy.sdf.org · 5 pts · 257d
Same with iNaturalist for plants and fungi!
stray@pawb.social · 3 pts · 256d
My immediate assumption is that any observations made by me are meaningless noise and that I should avoid making them unless I see something really weird. But that could also be a problem because then it looks like shiny Caterpie is really common in this area while the regular one is rare. Do you know what behavior the creators of the app prefer?
marduk@lemmy.sdf.org · 2 pts · 255d
I do not know, and I didn't find much on their site other than a few good practices listed here: https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/community+guidelines
They do have a forum where etiquette questions come up, so that might be a good place to get a feel for it, e.g. https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/inat-posting-etiquette-questions/15317/5
The main thing seems to be honesty about your observations (if you're unsure of an ID, note that) and be available for comments and corrections on your posts.
Good luck!
stray@pawb.social · 2 pts · 255d
Thank you very much!
whimsy@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 254d
Ugh, I hate that they demand I make an account. Why‽
stray@pawb.social · 1 pts · 256d
What does it mean that this bird is "likely in 4 today"?
runner_g@piefed.blahaj.zone · 1 pts · 256d
geese. geese are what pass through my area.
Wildmimic@anarchist.nexus · 13 pts · 257d
It's definitely good for people who struggle with a wide array of mental health issues, and is good prophylaxis against the same.
Draegur@lemmy.zip · 11 pts · 257d
Slowmaxxing my travel ironically makes the journey feel shorter
zebidiah@lemmy.ca · 7 pts · 255d
We need friction between us and the things we want to do, otherwise the things we want to do will feel meaningless and hollow
Fizz@lemmy.nz · 6 pts · 256d
What is the 48 cookies doing in here lol.
other_cat@piefed.zip · 4 pts · 255d
My brain just automatically supplied "hour" 48 hour cookies. (You make the dough then chill it in the fridge for a couple days to make the flavor change.)
ICastFist@programming.dev · 3 pts · 255d
Probably what you have after Lex Luthor steals 40 cakes
Rhoeri@piefed.world · 5 pts · 255d
How does one spend 15 minutes making coffee?
autriyo@feddit.org · 4 pts · 255d
Manual mill, mokka pot, and a pot and french press for making frothed(?) milk. Plus rinsing off the milk afterwards
Not quite sure if ppl call it frothed milk or steamed milk...
tomiant@piefed.social · 4 pts · 257d
NO TIME!
RebekahWSD@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 256d
My stand mixer would cry trying to make 48 cookies in a go. I'll stick with 24 and eating them all up then making more!
Xenny@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 256d
I read it as 48-hour chocolate chip cookies. I make those often actually. I find with my recipe especially the 48-hour rest really helps the cookies flavor. It's been fun. Experimenting.
cranakis@reddthat.com · 3 pts · 257d
Tldr
Carnelian@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 257d
Read a book with a cat
Trainguyrom@reddthat.com · 1 pts · 255d
I think part of the problem is we've really perfected computers to where they're overly-effective entertainment machines. You can play games that suck you in for hours on end, you can watch videos and movies on any topic. Hour long video essays on isoteric and ultimately unimportant topics. 2-10 second videos each delivering laughs, cultural experiences and information, all queued up to watch one after another so you've watched 10 unrelated videos in a minute. And if that's not enough stimulation now it's becoming common practice put an unrelated video on part of all of the screen so you don't have to get worried about being bored for a few seconds. Pepper the video with split second clips from popular shows or movies for an added laugh and remembering the reference fondly and you've got a recipe to never be bored for a single second.
We've defeated boredom and it shows. Now we as a society have to learn why being bored is good again, why our brains need some boredom so that everything else can have meaning.
People need to relearn how to go make stuff. Read books, read magazines, play instruments, ride bikes and skateboards and run and jump and have fun away from screens. I think this is a growing trend as people realize how bad for us these dopamine drips that are fed to us on our phones, computers, game consoles, etc. the rise of products and services to add friction to accessing our computing devices, the resurrection of feature phones, phones with intentionally boring screens to discourage use, etc.
starelfsc2@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 254d
I've tried this and part of the problem is if you're already tired, being bored doesn't suddenly make you capable of doing more, now you're just tired and bored. It's better in the long term because the times you might not be tired you'll be more willing to do things instead of the instant dopamine activities, but I'm not sure if that's worth all the time spent being super bored.
Trainguyrom@reddthat.com · 2 pts · 254d
My point was less "do nothing" but rather "do things other than stare at screens for entertainment" with a touch of "be mindful of what you're doing when you do stare at your screen for entertainment"
ValarieLenin@midwest.social · 1 pts · 256d
Vibes af
corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 256d
This is how they taught you to spell?
stray@pawb.social · 10 pts · 256d
That is the correct spelling in this context.
faythofdragons@slrpnk.net · 3 pts · 255d
They're just grammarmaxxing