For your fourth challenge, you're going to pretend that you're in that horror movie "A Quiet Place" as you get tucked in. If it gets too loud, the sleep-gobbling monsters will attack.
Here's a fun fact: We share a common trait with birds in that our brain doesn't fully shut out sounds. You could call us bird brains, but it's actually an evolutionary advantage because we can be semi-alert to threats while we sleep. And it allows us to respond to our alarm clock or crying baby.
But our subconscious awareness of sound while sleeping also means we can be easily awoken by a passing truck or a talkative bird in the tree outside.
Your assignment is, before bedtime, to try to identify and quell any controllable sounds: smartphone pings, open windows, automatic coffee maker alarms, even wind chimes.
As for the noises you can't control -- the barking dog, your snoring partner, the irritating noisy neighbor, and that (bleeping) bird that's still chattering -- there are ways you can mask those, including earplugs (which come in various types), noise-canceling earphones and white noise machines.
White, pink and brown noise machines and apps are popular because they absorb the sound waves of little creaks and cracks that don't quite fully wake you but may still disturb sleep. There isn't much actual science behind how, why -- or even if – sound machines truly work, but experts say they don't seem to be harmful -- unless you have an existing hearing issue.
You can't get rid of all sound -- cue stupid bird -- but the more noise you can muffle or stop in its tracks, the less opportunity there is to pull you out of that lovely dream -- you know the one...
For more on the importance of dreaming, check out this episode of the Chasing Life podcast, in which CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta spoke with neuroscientist and dream expert Sidarta Ribeiro.
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