Did watching ASMR videos make me happier?

ASMR, which stands for autonomous sensory meridian response, has gotten incredibly popular over the last couple of years. The videos are supposedly a great way to wind down and relax, according to articles like this one. I had never considered watching them until recently one of my favorite YouTube channels, Bon Appetit, posted an April Fool’s joke of the test kitchen folks trying to make an ASMR video.

I was surprised that I really loved the video and was definitely more relaxed and in a better mood afterwards. So, this week, I decided to watch an ASMR video every day. This was a better way to clear my mind and relax than meditating every day, although I’m aware they aren’t at all the same thing. It was easier for me to just turn a video on in the background without it needing to be a focused activity when I didn’t feel like I had the time or space. It was also something that my fiance didn’t mind having to watch while he was doing something else, since I usually fell asleep pretty quickly.

Did watching ASMR videos make me happier? Yes. The videos made it so easy to fall asleep, and it was a great and relaxing way to end my day. I’m definitely going to turn to them when I need a calming moment or am having trouble falling asleep.