How to sleep with headphones | 5 Great Suggestions

Having a good night’s rest can determine your attitude for the rest of the day. It can be the reason you get everything done that you need to or the reason that you do not. That is why it is essential that you make sure that you have everything you need to have the best night’s sleep every night. Studies show that adults who listened to forty-five minutes of music before bed evidently had higher quality sleep immediately. Music can also help you fall asleep quicker. 

But how can you maximize your sleep efficiency or fall asleep listening to someone’s voice without hurting yourself in the process? There are all sorts of ways to fall asleep, but sometimes the only way is by letting your favorite artists usher you into Dreamland or listening 10-hour rain forest ASMR playlist on Spotify with good headphones.

Maybe you want to end your day by talking to your loved one and attempting the viral virtual sleepover trend. It is all fun and games until your very expensive wireless earphone has disappeared in between your sheets or your headphones have left you with some very noticeable marks. Either way, the be-all and end-all to your dilemma is that you have no idea how to sleep with your headphones on! 

The biggest problem is that headphones are big and get in the way while earphones are tiny and can get lost or be broken. This makes for an uncomfortable and intrusive experience for someone trying to sleep with their headphones on. How do you sleep with your headphones on and still get some shut-eye? 

How to Sleep with Headphones

How do you sleep with earphones in and not feel like you are violating your ears? Here are some tips and tricks on how to sleep with your headphones on whilst still ensuring that you sleep comfortably: 

Change your sleeping position 

How-to-sleep-with-headphones-girl-sleeping

This is the most cost-effective solution however it might be the most difficult to implement. By sleeping on your back or stomach and avoiding sleeping on your side you can comfortably sleep with your headphones on. 

However, the dilemma is that people usually cannot control how they move in their sleep. You may go to sleep on your back and wake up in a completely different position. But with some repetition and using pillows to support your sides you can train yourself to sleep in a new position. If it seems an impossible task you can invest in neck support which should assist in your transformation. 

Sleeping on your back has also been proven to keep your spine aligned, reduce tension headaches and help you avoid creases and wrinkles. This makes it a good alternative unless you are pregnant or have other specific conditions that you need to be cautious of. 

Get a pillow with a hole

The-Original-Pillow-with-a-Hole

Another alternative is to buy a pillow with a hole in the center. This would create the perfect cavity for your ear with your headphones on while you are sleeping. This would reduce the pressure and tension that the headphones would put on your head while laying on a flat/holeless surface. 

This pillow would provide a frictionless, pain-free, and comfortable night while allowing you to sleep with your earphones in. There are many different options to choose from but ‘The Original P.W.A.H’ is a trustworthy product that you can invest in to solve your problem.

Get a travel pillow

men-with-headphones-and-a-travel-pillow

Similar to the previously mentioned neck support, travel pillows fit snugly around your neck area in order to support your head and prevent movement in sleep. Therefore, using a travel pillow to sleep with headphones on is an accessible option. 

The indentation could also help relieve the pressure on your head while you are sleeping and to create a pocket for your headphones. This would allow you to sleep on your side without causing any damage to your ears similar to the pillow with a hole. 

Get sleep specific headphones 

headband headphones

Sleep-specific headphones are headphones that have been designed to make wearing them during sleep as comfortable as possible. They have been manufactured so that they do not protrude outwards to make it feel as natural as possible when sleeping on your side. 

The different types of sleep-specific headphones include headband headphones and low-profile earphones. Headband headphones resemble regular headbands that wrap around the head but they are fitted with non-invasive, external padded speakers. Whereas low-profile earphones are flat-headed and have ear-shaped soft silicone tips that fit comfortably. This ensures that regardless of what position you sleep in, you won’t feel a thing! 

Get wireless earphones 

Bose Sleepbuds II

Wireless earphones usually have a tight fit to prevent them from falling out. The fact that they are wireless means that you reduce the risk of cables strangling you or getting tangled while you are sleeping. This makes the other option to allow the use of headphones while you are sleeping. 

Wireless earphones are very accessible and are good enough to block out any external noise while comfortably ensuring that you can listen to whatever you want to while sleeping. 

There are many different options to choose from but Bose Sleepbuds II is a trustworthy product designed for sleep.

Is it bad to sleep with earbuds in?

Before you make the jump to sleeping with your headphones on, pay special attention to the following risk to sleeping with headphones on:

  1. Sleeping with headphones on proposes a larger risk of developing ear injuries associated with wearing your headphones on for extended periods of time. Specifically, hearing loss or rupturing of the eardrum if the volume is too loud or other conditions such as tinnitus. 
  2. Headphones and earphones completely block or cover oru ear canal. This can lead to an excessive buildup of earwax as air cannot circulate properly. If this situation goes unchecked, you may need to seek medical help to remove the earwax. 
  3. Another risk is a condition called Otitis Externa which is when your outer ear becomes inflamed. This can be caused as a result of the constant friction between your ear and the headphones and it increases your risk of infection.  
  4. Lastly, if you have headphones or earphones on while you are sleeping you are completely separating yourself from the world. This makes you vulnerable if anything happens while you are asleep. If you are home alone it is especially scary as you could miss emergency alerts or invasive entries which puts you in danger. 

Sleeping with music or background music on could make sleep a much more comfortable experience especially if you live in a place that is generally noisy, In an apartment on the main road, inconsiderate noises or housemates could be making your life a living hell. But sleeping with headphones on is the best solution to your problem. Say goodbye to tossing and turning and covering your head with your pillow to shut everyone else. 

Maybe you just need a few of your favorite tunes to wind down before bed. Use these tips to ensure a peaceful night of comfortable and recharging sleep. Or if you want to pull a Netflix all-nighter without being kicked out by your roommates, sleeping with headphones on is the way to go! 

With these different tips and tricks, you can easily make your experience so much better. Worrying about how to sleep with headphones will become a thing of the past. 

Written by Panashe

I'm Panashe Hwata - a computer science student with an unabashed love for technology and captivating audio. As the owner of this blog, I'm thrilled to share my passion for exploring the world of premium sound and cutting-edge tech with all of you. Join me on this exhilarating journey as we dive into the captivating world of audio excellence