ASMR: Getting me into the right mood to do things

It’s no secret that working from home has been a very distracting experience for me. I spent two years working remotely, and even though it wasn’t bad, I felt it stifled me. I was fine doing daily routine work tasks, but it seemed I could not do anything that required deep thinking or creativity.

Things got slightly better this year once I started getting into the office twice a week. It’s a good balance giving me the long-wished-for work-life balance I haven’t had throughout my entire career.

That said – concentration is still a problem. On my days working from home, I struggle with completing tasks and having designated work and non-work scheduled time.

Then recently, I saw my daughter using YouTube videos to help her focus on her studies, and I tried it. Guys, this has been a life-changer!

These are called ASMR (Autonomous sensory meridian response) rooms. Have you heard of them? They are like a window into a calming scene that serves as a visually appealing backdrop to whatever you’re doing. I love them more for the soothing white noise types of sounds – the hum of conversations in a cafe, the rustle of new leaves outside a window, or bird calls in a lush meadow.

I have found ASMR rooms to be such a relaxing thing to have while working and even reading! The perfect background noise/cozy ambiance helps me focus on the task at hand.

Today I’ve rounded up some of my favorite relaxing ASMR rooms that I use regularly. But there are plenty more available on YouTube. There are also great ASMR playlists on Spotify as well. I use these even more than the videos.

The best part about ASMR is you can choose what you are in the mood for!

Some favorite YouTube ASMR videos

Considering I am a bookworm, my favorite ASMR videos feature bookish themes – a library, study, or a café. Here are some videos that are on rotation these days:

• Cozy library on a stormy night with a crackling fire featuring rolls of thunder and the patter of raindrops
• Quieter library with a flicker of flames, the rustling of pages, and the scribbling of a quill
• Modern café scene with some gentle piano and rain falling on huge windows
• A more bookish café with a low hum of conversation
• A tower room surrounded by scrolls, plants, and witchy-looking bottles while the fire pops and it thunders outside.
• Deck of a cabin in the woods with the rustle of leaves and some quiet nature sounds
• Forest scene on a rainy afternoon with the steady rain and the wind moving through the trees
• A seasonal ASMR recommendation. Try this haunted mansion scene. Or perhaps a haunted, misty forest? I find the noises a little too distracting, but they may be right for you.

Some favorite Spotify playlists

So, just sharing this new to me discovery with you guys 😀. Have you used these kinds of videos/audio? Do you have some recommendations for me? Let me know in the comments.