12 Things worth a try if you can’t sleep because of noisy neighbors

By Jason Wooden, PhD | March 31, 2021

Intruding sounds from a noisy neighbor can make it harder to fall asleep, cause more night time wake ups, and arouse you out of deep sleep.

To keep your sleep on track , you can try ear plugs, white noise, music, noise canceling headphones, rearranging your bedroom, sound proofing, and various other remedies.

Your options for addressing the issue directly include politely talking with your neighbor, contacting a landlord or on-site property manager, and filing a noise complaint.

CONTENTS:

• What’s more frustrating?
• What noise does to your sleep
• The 12 bedroom noise remedies
• Addressing the issue at the source
• Other ways to help your sleep

Is there anything more frustrating than a noisy neighbor keeping you awake?

Noisy neighbors can be a nightmare.

Nothing is worse than being ready for bed, desperate for a good night of Zs, and unable to drift off to sleep because of a noisy neighbor.

Losing out on sleep can leave you dragging and feeling miserable the next the day.

Do a quick search on YouTube and you’ll find all sorts for posts from people sharing their frustrations about a noisy neighbor.

Noise is one of the most common complaints a landlord gets from tenants.  It can be an issue for condo owners and home owners too.

When it keeps happening, it can strain relationships with neighbors and lead to resentment…and anger.  Sometimes things can spiral into outright hostility.

For some, they may begin to dread going home and their living situation.

We all expect some amount of everyday noise, especially living in an apartment or townhouse.  However, when it’s so loud it’s shaking your wall or it’s past reasonable hours that’s a different thing.

And if you’re a light sleeper like me, it can be a major issue.

So, you really need to do something given how important your sleep is.

If you’re in an apartment, kicking the wall will only get you so far.  Likewise, starting a war with your neighbor across the driveway can make a bad situation worse.

It’s hard enough to get regular sleep with busy schedules, the daily stresses of life, and the many distractions our modern world throws at you.

Let’s take a look at the surprising ways intruding noise can mess with your sleep and some practical things you can actually do about it.

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The many ways your noisy neighbor can ruin your sleep

Most people are aware that noise from the neighbors can make it harder to drift off to sleep.  What’s worse, as it keeps happening you get more frustrated which can actually make it even tougher to transition to sleep.

As you get more and more stressed out, your body may turn on the fight-or-flight response and pump out stress hormones designed to get you in a heightened state of arousal.  If you’re not careful, you can get into a downward spiral.

Intruding noise can affect your sleep in other ways too.  It can wake you up during the night which can lead to fragmented sleep which is less refreshing.

Guess what?  Even if doesn’t wake you up, sounds in your sleep environment can affect how well you sleep.  They can arouse you out of deep sleep into a light sleep.

The reason this is a serious issue is because deep sleep is where your body actually replenishes and restores itself.  It’s what sleep is all about, so it’s really important you get it.

So, those are all the ways your noisy neighbors could be affecting your sleep:

• It’s harder to fall asleep
• More night time wake ups
• Less deep sleep

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Bedroom remedies for a noisy neighbor and your sleep

Let’s look at some practical ways to keep your neighbor’s noise from wrecking your sleep.  We’re going to focus on things in your immediate control, your sleep environment.

Obviously, what you do will depend on your exact situation:

• Is noise occasional or a regular occurrence?
• Does it happen before you go to sleep, during the night, or at random times?
• Is it coming through a wall, window, or the floor?
• Are you a light or heavy sleeper?

Some of the remedies listed are quick or short-term.  Others will require some work or investment.

And you’ll likely need to mix and match depending on the specific issues you’re up against.  Start with the easiest remedies and continue tweaking things until you figure out what’s going to create the optimal sleep environment for you.

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Addressing the noise directly with a neighbor

So far, we looked at the things you can do on your end when noisy neighbors are keeping you awake.  Now, let look at what you can do more directly to get some relief.

Over the years, I’ve been surprised by how noisy some people are at night seemingly without a care for their neighbors.  All the same, as they say, it is what it is.

It’s important to know your rights.  Research your local noise ordinance (you can check with your city and police department).  Check any agreements you may have as a renter or owner (i.e., lease, condo association, home owner’s association).

Depending on your situation, your options are to:

Talk to your neighbor

They might not realize it’s an issue.  In fact, sometimes people are surprised they can be heard, especially if they’re a deep sleeper.

Now, if they’re aware and just don’t care, than that’s a different situation and you’re in a different ball game.  However, it’s worth giving them the benefit of the doubt and politely approaching them.

A couple tips:

• approach them at a convenient and courteous time
• be as courteous and honest as possible
• avoid confronting them in anger as this may actually make things worse

Talk to a landlord or on-site manager

If you live in an apartment or condo complex, you can ask for help from the manager.  Likewise, if you’re renting from a landlord.

If you’re a home owner in a planned covenant community, check with your home owner’s association.  You may not be the only one bothered by the noise.

File a noise complaint

If you’ve struck out with everything else, you can try filing a noise complaint with your local municipality.  This may be a safer way to go if you’re being met with hostility.

Contact law enforcement

This is another last resort option.  If you call the police, be sure not to use the emergency 911 number.  Make sure to contact them while the noise is happening.

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Other things that can make it easier to sleep

As you’re figuring out the best remedies to keep your noisy neighbors from wrecking your sleep, you don’t want anything else to make things even harder.

Avoid getting over stressed

As I mentioned earlier, worrying too much about things can make it hard to fall asleep.  Stress and anxiety are major causes of insomnia.

That makes it important to find some relaxing activities to do on a rough night.  You can try relaxation exercises, light music, or quiet music.

Practice good sleep hygiene

Your neighbor’s noise may not be the only issue you’re dealing with.  Unfortunately, there’s a long list of things that affect sleep.

That makes it important that your everyday habits are the ones that support quality sleep.  Bad sleep hygiene can sabotage the other things you do to improve your sleep.

For better sleep hygiene, you should:

• keep consistent wake up & sleep times
• avoid naps
• exercise during the day
• avoid large meals, alcohol, or stimulants such as caffeine before bedtime
• maintain a regular bedtime routine
• avoid using TVs, laptops, or other electronics before sleep
• keep your bedroom dark, cool, quiet, & relaxing

Get a check up

It’s important to see a doctor, especially if your insomnia becomes a long-term problem.

Too many people aren’t aware how many other medical issues can cause problems or worsen sleep.  This includes things like chronic pain, heartburn, cancer, dementia, and asthma.

You may also be living with an undiagnosed sleep disorder such as obstructive sleep apnea.

Lastly, there’s the link between sleep and depression.  Insomnia increases your risk for depression and depressed people find it harder to sleep.

If you’re not careful, you can get into a downward spiral.  If you’re really feeling down because of your situation, it’s important to get help.

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You may also be interested in:

17 Sleep-friendly ways to pass the time at night

Natural sleep aids

Sleep hygiene checklist

Can you really cool down with ice in front of a fan?

7 things to try if your phone keeps waking you up

Sleeping with a dog and allergies

4 things to avoid if you keep a fish tank in your bedroom

16 Things to try if you’re too cold to sleep

What to do if a barking dog wakes up the baby

12 things to try if car noise is ruining your sleep

What you can’t sleep after moving and what to try

Sources:

1. “How Noise Can Affect Your Sleep Satisfaction”, sleepfoundation.org

2. Can music improve sleep quality in adults with primary insomnia?  A systematic review and network meta-analysis.  International Journal of Nursing Studies, 2018, volume 77, pages 189-196.

3. The Effect of Music on the Human Stress Response.  PLOS ONE, 2013, volume 8, issue 8, e70156.

4. Anatomically distinct dopamine release during anticipation and experience of peak emotion to music.  Nature Neuroscience, 2011, volume 14, pages 257–262.