Listening to mundane sounds helps me be one with myself. Become aware of your surroundings, breathing, and your listening skills. Taking the time to listen, even though you think it takes away from your focus, actually helps you to get back on track to whatever was stressing you out before (with a much better mentality). Especially with times, such as the last few weeks in your semester, which is crunch time (aka the worst time).

So, I have taken the time to think of things that relax me. These are just sounds. Something as simple as a normal sound you listen to every day can make a big difference. It has the power to completely alter your state of stress, to a state of relaxation. If you just focus on that one thing, it can surprisingly center your mind. I guess it can be considered a yoga for the mind.

Sometimes when I do my homework I put on my most relaxing album, which is usually Gabrielle Aplin or Khalid, while also playing soft rain on youtube in the background. I even spiced it up the other day and added an outdoors fire, which was recorded for hours on end with a real nature background. Having this helped me exhale and do my work. While sometimes it might also make you want to go to sleep, it just helps you de-stress while you are doing whatever you need to get done.

I get the same feeling from these that I would while drinking a nice cup of coffee, hot cocoa, or even a glass of wine (sometimes).

Here are some examples of some sounds that bring me comfort (hopefully they inspire you to make your own list of things or are at least relatable):

1. Dishwasher running
2. Washing machine running
3. THE air conditioning/heater (puts me to sleep)
4. Soft typing
5. Swish of ice in liquid (preferably coffee)
6. Wind
7. Crackling Fire
8. Rain
9. Ocean
10. Music (obviously)
11. Swish of clothes/blankets
12. Soothing voices
13. Leaves crunching
14. Patter of footsteps
15. Coffee shop sounds