If I’m having difficulty falling asleep, I’ll go onto YouTube and look through my subscriptions list of all the ASMRtists I follow. There are so many different types of ASMR videos to choose from, but many people have misconceptions about ASMR. ASMR stands for “Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response,” which is the term for that tingling or relaxing sensation you feel when you listen to or watch these types of videos.

If you’ve been having a hard time getting some proper sleep for the new semester, here are different types of ASMR videos you can look into to help reset your sleep schedule:

1. Whispered

Typical ASMR videos will be whispered, accompanied by other tingling triggers. The whispering can be too much for some, but there are ASMRtists out there who have mastered the skill of whispering. One of my favorite whispered videos is by Latte ASMR. This video, in particular, also includes some unique (ASMR) triggers, these triggers being “face touching” and repeated words/sounds. Relaxing Face Touching & Whispers For Your Sleep⭐️ ASMR

2. Inaudible/Unintelligible Whispers

Sometimes audible whispering will be too distracting for me to fall asleep to. That’s where inaudible whispering comes in. Inaudible whispered videos are like your typical whispered videos, minus the ability to understand what the whisperer is saying. It’s the soothing sounds of whispered syllables without the distraction of listening to what the person is saying. One of my favorite inaudible whispered videos is visual ASMR, where most of the tingles are focused on the visuals. It’s by SouthernASMR Sounds (her Southern accent is also a factor in the tingles). Visual ASMR ~ Making Sandwiches / Rain Background Noise / Inaudible Whisper

3. Soft Spoken

If whispering isn’t your thing, but you still want to enjoy some talking, then soft-spoken ASMRs may be for you! They’re everything you can get in whispered videos, but instead of those breathy sounds, it’s just quiet speaking. These videos can feel more gentle and more personal. Occasionally, some ASMRtists will fall into a whisper, but they’re very quick, and you won’t have to deal with them too much! A few of my favorite soft-spoken ASMRs are by Gibi ASMR, and this one, in particular, includes scratching, tapping, and some of her signature finger fluttering! [ASMR] Scratching, Tracing, Tapping Trigger Assortment (Soft Spoken Ramble)

4. No talking

Not everyone likes whispers or soft-spoken videos. Maybe the idea of someone speaking too closely to your ear or even listening to someone speak at all doesn’t help you sleep, and you just need certain sounds. There is a whole sector of ASMR videos where people just make sounds and don’t talk. There are many different sounds to explore, but this one label handling by SouthernASMR Sounds sends tingles down my back.

ASMR ~ Handling Name Label Sheets (No Talking) 

5. Foreign Language

There are some nights where I need talking videos, but English just won’t do it for me— that’s when foreign language videos come in. Since English isn’t my only language, I started off with Korean ASMRs. Maybe it’s because it’s the language spoken by my parents, so there is some familial comfort with it, but those knock me out so fast. One of my favorite Korean ASMRtists is Soy ASMR. She also makes videos in English and Tagalog, but this one video in Korean where she gives her Dummy Head a makeover is my all-time favorite. [한국어 ASMR] Dummyhead Makeover! 더미헤드 “김덤희” 화장 시키기!! ※무서움 주의※

Another foreign language ASMRtist I really want to highlight is ASMR Twix. If you’re into hair videos, facials, or other massages, then her channel is perfect. ASMR Twix will go out to different salons or spas in Japan, and record videos with the sounds and the introduction of the appointment, and the conversation in Japanese is always soothing. There is something about the syllables and tonal sounds from foreign languages that I particularly enjoy. This video is one of my favorites, as Watanabe’s soft speaking voice is incredibly soothing, and the content in the rest of the video is one of my favorite kinds of sounds. 

I got the Most Aesthetic Relaxation Therapy by Japanese Pro (ASMR)

6. Binaural/surround sound

The area I get the most tingles from is behind my head/my back. I found that by listening to videos with binaural sound, the sound of a person making certain trigger sounds or speaking behind me gives me the best relaxing tingles. When videos are with binaural audio, it basically just means that the sound can be isolated to both ears, rather than the sounds coming out from the microphone recording sound only. These videos work best with headphones. One of the best binaural videos I play to help me fall asleep is by Ephemeral Rift. This video is also a no-talking video, and it’s 46 minutes of a variety of different sounds.

Experimenting On Your Ears | No Speaking | Binaural ASMR

7. Eating/mouth sounds

This category of ASMR videos can be quite hit or miss, as eating or mouth sounds can gross some people out. Sometimes I watch eating videos for the sake of watching people eat yummy foods (I use these videos to satiate my hunger at one or two A.M.). Still, when it comes to mouth sounds, I prefer videos where the ASMRtist applies lipgloss or lipstick and lightly smacks their lips together. This video by Chynaunique ASMR is an old fav of mine. She whispers, taps, and applies a variety of lipsticks in this one. 

ASMR | Lipstick Application | Slight Inaudible | Tapping | Mouth Sounds

8. Reiki ASMR

Reiki is a form of energy healing from Japan. Obviously, these types of videos are not for everyone, but for those who believe in the concept of healing through energy forces, some of my favorite Reiki ASMRtists are The Lune INNATE, Ediyasmr, Reiki Healing Hope, and Silver Hare. In particular, this video by The Lune INNATE  gives me lots of tingles, as hand movements and spraying sounds are amongst the top of my list of best triggers. In the first five minutes of the video, she speaks normally, but as the main content of the video kicks in she begins speaking softly and in whispers.

Plucking | Sprays | Hand Movements | Energy Work ASMR

9.  Lo-fi

I don’t typically listen to Lo-fi ASMRs, but my friend really enjoys them. Basically, rather than high-quality audio/video, Lo-fi videos will be done from a cheap or basic microphone and filmed on a lower quality camera to provide a certain atmosphere of comfort and relaxation that doesn’t seem overly produced. Melanin ASMR Ari has a lovely Lo-fi video with snipping sounds (another one of my favorite triggers). https://youtu.be/tbnv8Akseb4

I could go on and on about how many different types of ASMR videos there are and how much watching ASMR videos has helped me with my sleep, relaxation, and anxiety, but I’ll leave that up to you to explore! There are more than just the types I listed here today, so there are endless possibilities if you ever decide to look. 

Visual Created by Talisa Trevino