The strange online phenomenon is all about tingles and things that crunch.
While it’s easy to stay home and chill these days with the support of online shopping, grocery deliveries, and Zoom calls with friends, avoiding the threat of the outside world can still bring on stress. The ever-present news cycle is often nothing to sing about, and we can all easily find at least ten good reasons for feeling the threat of doomsday lurking over our shoulders at any given moment. Climate change? It’s definitely going to get us all in one giant, garbage-filled ocean wave off the Pacific swallowing us whole. One day. COVID-19? Count your blessings now, before the sanitizer runs out. World War III? Let’s not think of it. Ever.
ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response) videos help you do just that. They dial down your overall panic. They’re also simply pleasant, weird, soothing, and something nice to peruse at the end of the day.
Your autonomous sensory meridian response is that tingly feeling some people get listening to the rain fall outside their camping tent, or when someone runs their fingers through their hair. (Or, even watching someone run their fingers through their hair).ASMR hasn’t been scientifically proven or explained, although some studies have investigated why people feel dizzy listening to certain sounds. Research has also shown that ASMR may have mental and physical health benefits, and may be more common in people who are anxious and neurotic.
Looking for a way to tune out and click the switch to “balmy and calm”? Check out our top 10 favorite ASMR videos on YouTube.
Satisfying Slime
This video is all about gooshy slime and things that crinkle. It’s not a slow ASMR video, but it gives you that rewarding crunch.
Swatching and Sorting 100 Markers by Color
Extremely quiet talking and slow, methodical actions make this one a winner. Watch as Gibi swatches 100 different colors using color-graded markers, filling in tiny boxes.
Sleep and Tingle
Batala leads you through an ultra quiet video intended to lead you into a deeper sleep. Clacking finger nails, pillow tapping, and lights in the darkness lull you to relaxation.
Related: What is Epigenetics and How Does It Affect Your Health?
ASMR Guaranteed Tingles
The ultimate video for scratchy sounds filled with spine tingling glee, Guaranteed Tingles is simply mesmerizing. With over 21 million views, it tops the charts as winner. The creator even placed a giant list of timestamps with descriptions of each item used from plastic wrap to cork scratching and more, so you can easily find your favorite trigger.
ASMR 99.99% of You Will Sleep
Things like simple keyboard tapping, page turning, and bubble wrap crumpling form the content of this video that is almost 4 hours long! Another video with over 21 million views, it hits the mark.
ASMR Mukbang Spicy Chicken Tteokbokki
This video is one of many that veers away from the “traditional” vein of ASMR videos by adding in cooking and spicy food. At first glance, it’s a bit of a mystery. No doubt, watching cooking can be soothing but it’s uncertain if it really generates tingles. This being said, a lot of people love it, so maybe it’s your thing. Listen to water gurgle in a frying pan, food sizzle and fry, and the chef munch and crunch it all when it’s done all while slurping and whispering. It certainly looks delicious.
Chewing Sounds
A close up of someone’s mouth and crunching sounds: sometimes, that’s all you need. Warning: if you suffer from misophonia this isn’t for you.
Cardi B Explores #ASMR
Why not combine this soothing practice with a tonne of self-promotion? That’s exactly what Cardi B does in this video where she can be found chatting about her winning song “Bodak Yellow” along with motherhood all while caressing a rug and fiddling with her kids’ toys.
Fastest ASMR
Pretend you’re in several settings- the dentist, a sleep clinic, an ear exam, and more. Humorous and light, 38 million views shows someone likes this.
Solo Camping
Someone went solo camping in Indonesia and recorded things like the rain on tarps, the birds, the action of slowly cutting an apple, and other delights. No talking. Just watching the view and camping in Indonesia is relaxing enough in and of itself.
ASMR can potentially help you tune out the noise of the world, bringing increased relaxation that can caress and soothe tangled nerves. Add in some deep breathing while watching and it’s a much healthier activity than eating chips in front of the TV.
photo credits: YuliaLisitsa/Shutterstock.com
