Neighborhood Influences on Sleep Quality

Your neighborhood’s characteristics can significantly affect how well you sleep. Recent research highlights the impact of urban landscapes on restfulness.

Erin Palinski-Wade, a nutritionist from New Jersey and author of “The Sleepdemic Solution,” notes that your home’s surroundings can disrupt your sleep. Living with family, pets, or in a loud environment often alters sleep patterns.

Palinski-Wade suggests using a white noise machine if you reside near busy streets to block out external sounds. Blackout curtains and keeping bedroom doors closed can also reduce disturbances.

Research by Professor Daisuke Matsushita from Osaka Metropolitan University studied Google Street View images using AI to evaluate streetscape features, influencing sleep patterns among over 200,000 subjects.

Cities could potentially measure perceived safety, beauty, liveliness and enclosure, as well as pollution and noise. – Professor Daisuke Matsushita

The study found residents in safer-looking neighborhoods slept longer. Elements like trees, greenery, and enclosed spaces correlated with better sleep and fewer insomnia symptoms. Conversely, areas with more sidewalks and traffic signs often led to a sense of insecurity and less sleep.

Matsushita hopes these insights will inspire healthier neighborhood designs. Palinski-Wade suggests blackout curtains to combat light pollution for better rest.

Inside your home, room temperature and door positions impact external noise ingress. The research does not imply a need to move but highlights how local interruptions, noise, and pets can affect sleep.

The study’s findings are based on self-reported data from working adults in Tokyo, potentially reflecting memory bias. It involves individuals on lower apartment floors, with limited applicability to those in higher buildings or rural and suburban areas.

Palinski-Wade advises maintaining a consistent sleep schedule for improved sleep quality. Khloe Quill, a lifestyle writer, covers food, travel, and health stories for Fox News Digital.