Impact of Neighborhoods on Sleep Quality

Recent research highlights how your neighborhood significantly influences your sleep patterns. Erin Palinski-Wade, a nutritionist from New Jersey, emphasizes the impact of household surroundings on restfulness. Disruptions in sleep often stem from noisy environments, family dynamics, and pets.

Palinski-Wade advises using a white noise machine if you live near busy streets to mitigate noise. She also recommends other adjustments such as blackout curtains and keeping bedroom doors closed to minimize disturbances.

Beyond immediate surroundings, the broader neighborhood environment can subconsciously impact your sleep. A study by Professor Daisuke Matsushita from Osaka Metropolitan University in Japan examined Google Street View images to assess streetscape features using AI technology.

“Cities could potentially measure perceived safety, beauty, liveliness and enclosure, as well as pollution and noise,” Matsushita noted.

The study involved over 1,000 adults living in lower apartment floors in Tokyo. Findings indicate that perceived neighborhood safety correlates with longer sleep durations. Areas with greenery and high ‘enclosure’ rates, marked by tall buildings and limited open spaces, also support better sleep quality.

Conversely, highly walkable areas with numerous sidewalks and traffic signs can lead to shorter sleep periods due to increased foot traffic and noise. These insights suggest the potential for designing healthier neighborhoods.

Palinski-Wade suggests blackout curtains to reduce light pollution for improved restfulness. She also stresses that indoor environmental factors like room temperature and door positions affect noise levels entering the bedroom.

While the findings suggest significant environmental impacts on sleep, they don’t imply the need for relocation. The study focused on self-reported data from Tokyo residents on lower apartment floors, limiting the applicability to other demographics and locations.

Palinski-Wade recommends maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, even on weekends, to enhance sleep quality and quantity.

Khloe Quill, a lifestyle writer with Fox News Digital, reports on various topics such as food, travel, and health.