Aditya B., Teen Rep Membership/Engagement
Dec 23, 2025
Aditya explores the striking differences between urban noise and the calming sounds of nature, examining how what we hear every day affects our stress levels, focus, and overall well-being.
The many differences between the calming waves of nature’s sounds and the loud irritations of urban noise.
Many young Mensans like ourselves live in urban areas. While living in big cities includes the hustle and bustle of urban life, this can ultimately lead to detrimental psychological and physiological effects on our stress levels, well-being, and focus. Let’s discuss the many ways urban noise affects human beings, and how nature can create a much safer space for your body.
Stressful Sounds
Urban areas have many effects on humans, especially the youth. One of the greatest effects that humans experience everyday is stress, and it is enhanced when we live in busy urban areas. According to an article by BBC, Urban noise increases chronic stress, disturbs people’s sleep schedules, and leads to higher blood pressure. Chronic noise annoyance can also cause deep rooted mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. Living in an urban city, with many noise annoyances, can lead to not only increased stress levels, but also messed up sleep schedules, which affect your social battery and energy levels for the entire day. That’s why it’s important to go to bed as soon as you can, to ensure your body can function properly the next day.
Worsened Well-being
Did you know that urban noise also affects your overall well-being in your day-to-day life? Around 25% of the European population experience a deterioration in, or worsened, quality of life due to noise pollution. 5–15% suffered from sleep disorders too (The National Library of Medicine)! The United States has an even larger urban sprawl, so imagine the deterioration of quality of life for Americans in urban areas. With more noises that are even louder, urban areas create an imbalance in your body’s peace and functionality.
Focus is Fractured
Your focus can also be ruined by the sounds of honking, or even just urban cities being awake. Whether it's studying, practicing, meditation, or any other form of focus, urban disruption is a leading cause for loss of concentration. A 2025 Sustainability Directory article revealed that our bodies react to noise by releasing cortisol and adrenaline, two stress hormones designed for short bursts of high energy. But when urban sounds keep triggering our bodies, this stress response becomes constant, leading to our short boosts of energy being stretched for long periods of time.
This redirects our energy resources from focusing to, instead, raising our alertness to distractions, breaking up concentration and ultimately exhausting our brain power. While noise pollution is obviously not the only cause for loss of focus, it sure is a leading one. Which is why it is imperative to give yourself some time to recuperate and have a few moments of peace during the day.
Nature’s Alternative
The much better alternative to urban noises is the soft, lulling sounds of nature! When you spend some time out in nature, and just listen, this actually helps you heal from the many annoyances of the industrialized world. Spending time in nature can improve attention spans, lower stress levels, boost your mood, and even cause you to be more relaxed around others (ThedaCare). Experts recommend spending at least a total of 2 hours per week outside to get the long lasting rewards and effects. That is why it is important to take some time out of your day to go explore nature, like the Grassy Waters Preserve, or even your backyard!
Summary of the Sounds
To summarize, urban noise is very harmful to humans both mentally and functionally. It causes higher stress levels, disrupted sleep, and worsened health. It also is a leading cause of loss of concentration. Natural sounds found outside are the exact opposite. They lower stress in humans, increase attention spans, and help you relax from a long day. So next time you pass the beach or you are near Busch Wildlife, take a moment to decompress from the very busy day that you already have.
About the Author:
Aditya is a high school student and our Youth Team’s Cabin Crew. He loves reading, acting, and playing guitar. If he doesn’t have his head stuffed in a book, he is probably doing schoolwork or competing in a speech and debate tournament. See Aditya’s Volunteer Spotlight HERE!