Do you enjoy the ASMR of Wooden Blocks?
We stumbled upon the concept of ASMR when we came across several YouTube videos of people playing with wooden blocks. Turns out, hundreds of thousands of viewers feel comforted by the soft clicking and whooshing sounds of block play.
The pleasure they feel is associated with ASMR, which stands for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response. But instead of trying to remember what this acronym stands for, it’s easier for us to think of ASMR as a pleasant sensation some people feel in response to certain sounds.
For some, the ASMR feeling is a relaxing head‑to‑toe tingling sensation. Others describe it as a soothing background feeling that helps with focus, sleep, or winding down.
And then there are those of us who don’t feel much of anything at all, and that’s totally fine. Not everyone’s brain is tuned to the same wavelength!
The susurrus of a soft wind whispering through basswood trees? Delightful!
We found other online examples of ASMR, too. We’re a little surprised by how many we get to hear every day in the Uncle Goose workshop. For example, the crisp folding of paper and the soft sounds of scissors snipping as we wrap gifts? Those are ASMR triggers for many people!
Another ASMR trigger is the tapping of our keyboards as we design and write. Flipping through the pages of our books and notebooks? That’s another trigger.
All these soft, simple noises can give an ASMR aficionado great pleasure. So here’s a playful mission: find out what ASMR triggers might work for you!
This is a highly personal adventure. Your ears and brain get to decide which sounds are cozy and which are annoying.
For example, some people might find the sound of our saws cutting wood loud and irritating. Others of us find it extremely pleasurable: to us, it sounds like market share!
Try noticing what draws your attention to calm and which noises distract or annoy you. That’s how you can find your personal ASMR playlist.
Of course, we recommend goofing around with your wooden blocks and chips. Your favorite childhood toys are a low-key, accessible way to experiment with ASMR.
Stack and arrange your blocks in a quiet room. Listen as you stack and slide them together.
Does the soft clicking and whooshing relax you, ease your breathing, or help you focus? Or do you prefer the more dramatic option of creating a tower that collapses in a glorious, thunderous crash?
That loud crash is definitely not ASMR! It’s more like a chaotic catharsis. If ASMR isn’t your thing, maybe a loud, joyful crash is exactly the sound your soul needs.
Give it a go. Arrange a few blocks and listen. Learn a little more about what sounds make your mind smile and your spine tingle!
