ASMR stands for ‘autonomous sensory meridian response’ and is the second most popular search term in YouTube in 2021. The feeling some people get when watching ASMR videos is described as calming and pleasurable and 81% of people watch ASMR before they go to bed.
ASMR can also involve a tingling sensation in the scalp and can extend throughout the body. It is usually sounds or images that cause this but it can be experienced with touch or smell.
Does ASMR actually help you sleep?
I watch ASMR videos (almost) every night before I go to sleep. I find that I fall asleep quicker and deeper when I watch videos. I try to turn them off before I go to sleep so my phone doesn’t stay on and drain the battery.
I find that YouTube will auto-play a few videos in a row, but when I have fallen asleep in front of it, it has eventually turned itself of by itself. For me I just feel relaxed.
I personally don’t really feel tingling of any sort but it helps to distract me from worrying thoughts about work or the kids. Focusing on a simple task or sound helps to distract me enough for my mind to slow down and switch off.
I don’t think that I necessarily get the ASMR experience but I found that the benefit of a quick and easy sleep is all I need from the videos.
Benefits of ASMR for sleep
Research to date has really focused around why people use ASMR and for many it has been linked to supporting sleep. A study reported by psychology today, reports that 81% of people reported that they used ASMR before going to bed.
For me, I do not really get the ASMR sensation from watching these videos but it definitely helps me sleep. For me I think it is a distraction, like some meditation practices, I am focusing on a mundane, non-reactive thought or image that helps to calm my mind before sleep.
What is the best ASMR for sleep?
There are so many types of ASMR but they often involve people doing everyday tasks, folding laundry, painting, brushing hair and eating. I watch a lot of ASMR videos with massage and reflexology. Lots of these are great for relaxing at the end of the day and falling asleep quickly
Massage
A massage video I love is the Complete Street Indian body massage at the Banks of the Ganges. The massage itself if relaxing but every now and then the camera will pan across and you will see people going about their day.
There are boats and birds an people randomly standing around in the background. The massage is good but the background is great. Check it out.
Reflexology
Recently I have found some great reflexology videos by Yutaka’s Reflexology. My favorite series is the Gori Gori series or “crunchy” videos. A reflexology tool is used to ‘release the toxins’ in peoples feet.
Although Gori Gori isn’t technically reflexology, it is super relaxing to watch and a great video for falling asleep to. I have also watched the other videos on this channel that show the reflexology zones and talk through what is going on in the reflexology session. Look out for level 10 videos if you want to see some intense (painful or itai) reflexology.’
Hair brushing
These were actually the first ASMR videos I started watching and found out that they helped me to sleep. The channel is by itsblitzzz and there are a few different types of ASMR here.
I head to the ASMR massage playlist and watch an assortment of videos where she does gentle massage on her friends or fans. This involves hair brushing, massage, and if you have the sound on there is also whispering. It is so relaxing to watch and always puts me to sleep.
I also like to watch the videos filmed just with candlelight as it is darker on my phone so I go to sleep quicker.
Head massage and hair cutting
Another of my favorites is Indian Barber and I still watch this at least once a week. This guy goes around India getting head massages, body massages, haircuts and beard cuts. He features different barbers like the Tapping King Sarwan and Manoj Master.
My favorite is the Reiki Master and his Tok Sen videos. You can even see video’s of the barbers massaging each other. I think Indian Barber is getting creative with his channel after it became so popular. He is already up to 375k subscribers.
Chanting
A bit of a different ASMR video is street massage and spiritual cleansing videos from Ecuador Live. There is some great chanting that I find so distracting and a whole element of flowers and leaves which I assume has something to do with the cleansing.
I always turn off subtitles but if you want to know what is being said, leave them on and enjoy. I actually watch these when I really need a distraction.
Is ASMR the same as flow?
Flow has been long established as a state of consciousness that is a combination of highly focused engagement and deep relaxation.
When you are in flow you feel ease, time seems to disappear, we can concentrate and focus on the ask at hand and perform at peak level both physically and mentally. The feeling that come with both flow and ASMR are similar in they trigger relaxation, even peacefulness with the way things are.
They can bring us into the present where our mind can be at ease. The main difference is that in flow we are focusing on a task while in ASMR we are basically staring at a screen, in my case, YouTube.
I hope you have enjoyed finding out more about ASMR here on my blog. Catch you soon or some more ASMR answers.