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Anecdata but I recently got headphones with noise cancelling and my quality of life shot through the roof. According to my smartwatch, my heart rate is lower and stress levels are down. Unfortunately, I have to take my headphones off to go to sleep and I'm immediately reminded of the shoddy fridge in my apartment, vent noises, and my neighbor who doesn't realize it's 11:30 PM.

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To finally solve for this, I installed a set of 2.1 computer speakers under my bed, and I have my phone run a 10 hour recording I found of an air conditioner. The noise this generates sounds just like the real thing, and I keep it juuuust loud enough to drown out the road noise and upstairs neighbor's heavy footsteps. A click or two louder if their dog starts going nuts at 3am. I'd prefer actual quiet, but a low steady rumble is second best. Recommended highly.

I use the Bose “sleep buds” which do exactly this but in your ears. After reading this article though, I wonder if such white noise is good or bad (my recording of choice, ironically, is train noise).

Try rainstorm recordings instead maybe?

“The ocean machine set to 9” as REM sings

That sounds like a fantastic setup. I wanted to rig something like that over the top of the bed, but underneath would be elegant. I can highly recommend 10 hour rainstorm sounds as well, similar noise profile to industrial white noise but has a more natural association for me

I have yet to find noise cancelling headphones that don't give me 'stuffy ear' feeling.

I'm with you. One option I've seen is to wear gun range noise protection muffs and wear low volume earbud. Avoiding active noise canceling but still giving isolation.

Didn't have gun range muffs but I did something similar for a few years before buying my ANC headphones. I had a broken pair of over-ear headphones and under them I wore a pair of IEMs. Did the job pretty well.

Earplugs can help if you want something less bulky when you sleep

On top of that, if anybody knows of similar for folks who sleep on their side I would like suggestions//insight.

I’m a side sleeper and have slept with ear plugs in for nearly the past decade (hard for me to sleep without them now).

I currently use Mack’s ear plugs, but I imagine they are pretty much all the same. Just look for some foam ones. The first couple of times it feels strange, but you get used to it quickly.

Mack’s are amazing! I only just discovered them recently

i'm a side sleeper who could never use plugs until i found those (not affiliated):

https://www.happyearsearplugs.com

they advertise heavily but for me it's the only ones that dont bother me when im turning at night and they hold forever.

My preference: Honeywell Howard Leight Bilsom 303, of which I use the smaller size. Can be purchased in bulk.

My quality of sleep shot through the roof when I started sleeping with earplugs many years ago. Much deeper sleep. Now, I can't fall asleep without them.

I have an unproven theory in my head that shutting off my hearing while I sleep, quiets my subconscious and even when I'm asleep, my ears are still working so this helps another part of my brain rest as well.

Another happy ear plugger chiming in. I have them in every backpack and suitcase now because it makes falling asleep anywhere a fairly consistent experience -- along with an eye mask to be complete. These are the best ones I've found so far:

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M6AI2HF/ref=ppx_yo_dt...

+1. Can vouch for these and have in every backpack as well :)

Any recommendations for a good sleeping mask? Mine tends to fall off and doesn’t block 100%

Yes! These seem to last at least a few months each when left under a pillow (rather than stuffed into a backpack or something which degrades them faster).

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XP28RWB/ref=ppx_yo_dt...

Thanks!

I wish ear canceling worked well but even with good brands I end up with hearing loss after prolonged daily use simply because the noise cancelling was making my hearing working all the time, without pauses.

Also, beware that "cheap" earbuds like airpods aren't designed for your individual ear canal and can impact wax into your outer ear causing hearing loss.

I was able to sleep with bose noise cancelling earbuds

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