Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of IHeart Radio.

Good morning. This is Laura.

Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. Today's tip is a reminder to be ready to block out the world. When we are out and about, we can't always

control the noises that other people make, but you can often control your own sound environment,

and that can make a huge difference in your ability to focus, relax, or sleep. I was recently on a flight where

someone's headphones either weren't working or they weren't using them. I'm not quite sure what,

but they were playing some sort of electronic game that made annoying and sporadic clicking sounds.

The noise would have made it quite hard to concentrate if I hadn't had headphones.

But, fortunately, I did, as did most of the people around me.

As a result, no one exploded over the situation. I listened to some

relaxing music and got my work done, just as planned. Similarly, that night at my hotel,

I wound up being put in a room right across from the elevator and the ice maker.

There were quite a few loud conversations right outside my door about,

hey, do you think this ice maker works?

Before people bid goodbye to each other at the elevators.

This wouldn't have boated well for my sleep.

But I have a lovely white noise app on my phone,

and I travel with Mac's pillow-soft earplugs.

Between the two, I heard almost nothing.

I slept quite well despite the elevator, the ice maker, and the fact that my room was right over a busy road.

It was a good reminder to me of why I am equipped to block out the world, whenever I am out in the world,

and why you should remember to do so too.

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