The Color of Noise

By Megan Comer

You will probably never experience complete silence. Even when you are completely alone, the heating system is usually whirring in the background or people are talking in the distance. Your own thoughts cloud your head with cluttered noise. When I study, I need silence. But how is this possible when the world constantly makes noise around us? Some people drown out the noise with music while studying. I love listening to my favorite playlist, but it creates a problem when studying; I constantly catch my brain singing along to the song when I need it to focus on the words on the page in front of me. 

I started to listen to white noise as a solution for this problem when studying and doing homework. It was the perfect fix since white noise is known to drown out all the other sound frequencies around you. Combined with noise-canceling headphones, I could not hear any of the noise happening around me. However, white noise, while probably the most well-known of the colored noises, is also the most effective at putting you to sleep—not ideal on a night before you have two exams. This was when I began to research other colors of noise that actually enhance your focus. I never thought I could prefer one color of noise over the other, but they all have different effects.

White noise is likely the color of noise that you are most familiar with.  It makes all other sounds in its path disappear and for that reason is mainly used for sleep. It is a mixture of all the frequencies that people can hear. The result is a static sound like a radio station that is not broadcasting. In the car, when one of these stations comes on my immediate reaction is to flip to the next station. However, white noise becomes perfect for drowning out that annoying car alarm when I try to fall asleep.

Pink noise is my personal favorite. I listen to pink noise when my homework requires deep focus. Like white noise, pink noise drowns out all other sounds but is less harsh than white noise. It sounds like sitting next to the window during a heavy rainstorm. While pink noise has been shown to help people achieve deeper sleep, some studies have said it boosts your memory. Pink noise is a great study alternative when your typical playlists are distracting.

Brown noise, like pink noise is another great soundtrack for studying. Most people find brown noise helps them focus the most. It is a deeper sound than pink noise and instead of heavy rain, it sounds like ocean waves during a nap on the beach. 

Blue noise, another option, has the same soothing effects as white noise but operates more frequently. It sounds like a fast-moving waterfall or the water in your shower running. I find it to be soothing for a day at the spa or distracting yourself from your thoughts. I do not like listening to blue noise when trying to study since high-frequency waves can be distracting.

Green noise reminds people of nature more than any of the other noises. It is peaceful and calming, comparable to listening to a stream of water rushing by. Green noise is the easiest for me to fall asleep to, as white noise can be slightly too static for me. 

While listening to music is relaxing, sometimes it can soothe the overwhelming clutter of noise. I hope you now know what to do if your brain ever needs a retreat into silence and that you find the color of noise that works best for you!