Discovering ASMR

One zen playlist of natural sounds, and such came into my world at the right time during the pandemic last year, when the whole world was in lockdown. I grabbed a magazine on impulse, where an article was published on how someone gets paid to eat lollies. The same could go for munching on those crunchy hash browns. Welcome to ASMR. Simply the world of 'natural sounds' that apparently cause many people (myself included) to relax, tingle, and to enjoy some euphoric bliss. For the geeks and STEM lovers: Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response. (And now, sharing my third zen playlist for good measure.)

That led moi down the rabbit hole of checking out some cool ASMR sounds on YouTube, and they are also free from ads. When my UX Design studies moved online, ASMR cafe playlists were initially my saving grace, together with one's of cats meowing in cosy fireplaces. (YouTube search: asmr cosy fireplace with cats. My pleasure.) They helped me enjoy productivity in my project work, without listening to any other music, instrumental or otherwise. It was also a joy to watch the entire video in full screen style (as per the image above, of a coffee shop). Heck, I even talked about it in my portfolio. Briefly.

The best ASMR sounds are when someone is speaking to you loudly, yet in a soothing voice, and raindrops keep falling on your head, without getting wet of course. The coffee shop playlists are fun, because you hear the tapping sound of text messages being sent, as well as that sound when you receive a text message in reply. Not to mention the sounds of the rain, doors opening and closing with a tinker bell, as well as people talking; not to mention coffee machines brewing, and cups jangling.

You would be forgiven for sounding like ASMR is sensory overload. Far from it. Raindrops are soothing at the best of times, and it feels like you are part of the action. The coffee shop sounds served me well during lockdown, when only attending such shops was a pipe dream, and it is still true today. ASMR is great for engaging in some writing, as well as doing absolutely nothing. Great to use when paying bills as well.

Speaking of paying bills, I will digress for a minute. I am the grateful type of person, who goes as far for recognising that (say) my electricity bill is a sign to be grateful for the fridge that keeps my water cool in the summer months, as well as for the air conditioning unit for the same purpose...not to mention for the lights that keep life more enjoyable and purposeful in the home.

Despite seeing my bills as a blessing, there are times (human nature, perhaps) that a bit of anxiety lies around paying bills, and listening to some ASMR zen playlists inherited from YouTube; I am therefore relaxed and at ease with allowing that flow out, knowing that the tide will come back in.

The cat ASMR videos are also soothing beyond measure. There are many cats in the home, with a crackling fireplace, and you hear many loud meows and purrs simultaneously. I won't bore you with the details, yet stories have been written on the benefits of humans listening to a loud cat purr...therapeutic for the cats as well. If you are more of a dog lover, you are in luck, as social media is also home to some dog ASMR videos as well. This term is even trending on TikTok (I know, as I am one of their UI designers and moderators.)

These ASMR videos also mimic the real environment, thereby providing great leverage to the user. If you can't physically travel to a cafe, with or without your laptop and tablet in tow, and you want that buzz of people and sounds around you; then the ASMR videos are the next best thing.

Final verdict: ASMR is therapy. ASMR helps yours truly relax and enjoy the present, with awesome sounds and (sometimes) a bit of soft music. Consider it a form of extreme meditation...something the world presents to us on a daily basis. Ambulance sirens. Horns. Loud noises. Dogs barking. Jackhammers going off. Fireworks. You get the drift, but at lower decibels to promote peace and calm. Let's enjoy this science, with or without the power of the Internet. It does not have to cost you a cent, and/or only costs you your Internet connection. Love it.

#asmr #Iloveasmr #asmrtherapy #ZenPlaylists #ZenPlayslistsCompetition #meditation #extrememeditation #science #psychology