I Tried ASMR While Meditating—Here’s What Happened

I Was Already Struggling with Meditation

I’ve always loved the idea of meditation. Sitting still. Being present. Letting thoughts pass like clouds. Sounds peaceful, right?

But for me, it never went that way.

The second I closed my eyes, my brain became a DJ—playing every cringey moment from 2009, full volume. And the silence? That was the worst part. It made the noise in my head feel even louder.

I kept thinking, “Maybe I’m just not wired for meditation.”

Until one night, completely by accident, I combined it with ASMR.

The Night I Accidentally Meditated with ASMR

It was one of those long, restless evenings. I’d just finished watching an ASMR video—whispered affirmations and soft tapping. And I noticed something: my shoulders had dropped. My jaw unclenched. I felt… still.

So I paused the video. Left my headphones in. Closed my eyes.

I didn’t try to “clear my mind” or “focus on breath.” I just… sat there.

And here’s the wild part: I slipped into one of the calmest states I’d ever felt during meditation.

No pressure. No counting breaths. No forcing anything.

Just a soft afterglow of sound that helped me sink into the moment.

Why It Works (At Least for Me)

Here’s what I realized:

• ASMR gives your mind just enough to focus on.
• The sounds are soothing but not distracting.
• They act like a soft guide—pulling your attention back when thoughts wander.

It’s like having a meditation coach whispering, “Hey, you’re doing fine,” without saying a word.

And for someone like me, whose anxiety makes silence feel unsafe, ASMR creates a safe kind of silence—one filled with gentle noise.

My Favorite Way to Combine the Two

Here’s my current ritual, in case you want to try it:

1. Find a quiet, dim space (bed, couch, yoga mat—wherever)
2. Put on noise-cancelling headphones
3. Choose a slow ASMR video
   (I like ones with soft brushing, mic tapping, or whispered affirmations)
4. Sit or lie down, eyes closed
5. Don’t try to do anything. Just listen. Breathe. Let go.

Sometimes I set a 10-minute timer. Sometimes I let the video play and just drift.

No pressure to “do it right.” Just a soft pause in the middle of the noise.

If You’ve Struggled with Meditation Too…

You’re not broken.

Maybe you just need a different way in.

ASMR might not be traditional mindfulness—but for me, it is meditation.
It’s meditation with training wheels. With a soft voice saying, “You’re okay. Just be here now.”

And that’s enough.

Let’s Talk

Have you ever tried combining ASMR and meditation?
What helped you most—sound, affirmations, background noise?

Leave a comment below. I’d love to hear what calms you down when the world gets too loud.