Hi there, I'm Hiratchi.
The other day, I was chatting with my boss over a drink after work.
Me
Ever since I moved, noise has been keeping me up. Especially with my cat running wild in the middle of the night...
Boss
Why don't you try wearing earplugs?
Me
I do wear them... but they fall out while I'm sleeping, and I'm worried my cat might accidentally swallow one, so I've been thinking about buying an expensive pair.
Do you guys ever wear earplugs? You should totally try wearing them at night—it improves your sleep quality dramatically!
By the way, I usually use soft polyurethane ones from MUJI. They're basic, but they fit right in the ear canal and have great sound isolation!
They're cheap and come with a case, so it's super easy to replace them once they get worn out!
Boss
Oh, I used one in the past that was really good—it's like a kneaded eraser.
K-Kneaded eraser...?
I bought it immediately.
These clay-like earplugs are completely different from the type you insert into your ear canal!
They really are just like kneaded erasers, haha.
I had no idea these existed, but you wear them by covering the ear opening!
Because they stick to the outer ear, they don't easily fall off, so there's little risk of them coming loose in bed and being found by my cat.
Since they create a tight seal, apparently you can even use them for swimming!
And of course, if you use them while working, you can super-focus and get tons of work done!
As for the most important part—the noise isolation is fantastic!!
This is amazing...!
You know how stylish earplugs that feel like accessories are trendy right now?
They cost like 3,000 yen, 4,000 yen, or even 8,000 yen...!
If you prioritize functionality, I definitely recommend the "kneaded eraser" ones!!!
To list a few downsides:
・ It feels weird until you get used to the sticky seal on your ears
・ They pick up dust and hair
・ It's harder to hear your alarm
・ The stickiness fades, so you need to replace them after a while
If you're not a morning person, be careful because it's hard to hear your alarm!
That's why I use my smartwatch's snooze alarm feature!
With a smartwatch, it tracks your sleep quality too, so you can lead a fulfilling sleep life!
If you're curious, you should definitely give them a try~!!
