What does being "healthy" look like to you? If doing pushups and eating vegetables are what comes to mind, that's great, but don't forget about emotional health, too. You need to keep your body healthy, but you also need to keep your mind at peace—and ASMR can help achieve just that. 

ASMR—which stands for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response—is best described as a tingly, static-like sensation that you might feel deep in your skull or down your back. It can be caused by many things, but it's most likely to occur when you hear soft noises such as whispering, tapping, scratching and crinkling. ASMR is somewhat mysterious, as no one has been able to completely explain how it works. Nonetheless, there are several videos made by "ASMRtists" who attempt to give others that tingly, “oddly-satisfying” feeling.

So, how exactly can ASMR videos improve your emotional health? The pandemic has brought about stressful days and sleepless nights, yet these short clips can help you doze off, stay focused when you're awake and increase your mood. "I created my own [ASMR YouTube] channel to help others that have difficulty sleeping like me,” says Christy of Faith To Rise, a page that features inspirational ASMR videos. “ASMR can help provide relief from depression and anxiety. It's a safe place that focuses on relaxation, comfort and hope." Alyssa Jordan, who makes beauty and food ASMR videos, also started her channel with a greater purpose: "I became interested in ASMR because it was suggested to me to deal with trouble sleeping. It really helped!" 

To tap into the sensation generated by ASMR, start with a pair of earbuds—you need something that feels comfortable to wear and delivers sharp, high-quality sound. Then, make sure you're in a cozy bed or chair and wearing comfortable clothes. If you're trying to sleep, consider wearing an eye mask to block light from getting into your eyes while listening to the relaxing sounds. The next step is finding videos, whether on social media or ASMR apps (Tingles; Soap Cutting; Super Slime Simulator). If the clips are from YouTube, feel free to save them into playlists so you can easily return to them in the future. 

Start your ASMR journey with the following four videos from YouTube. In just a matter of minutes, you may be brought closer to achieving a universal state of calm. 

1. ASMR Sleepy Wood Triggers (Close up) by Coromo Sara ASMR

Coromo Sara releases videos focused on sounds stimulated by objects—and this clip is no different. The ASMRtist features 52 minutes of tapping and rubbing assorted wooden objects, which engenders gentle yet captivating noises. 

2. ASMR Mouth Sound Syllables and Brushing by PJ Dreams ASMR

Canadian YouTuber “PJ Dreams” combines live vocals with noises generated by objects. In this clip, quick, repetitive mouth sounds are combined with soft microphone brushing.

3. Foam Cleansing Sound ASMR by Veiled ASMR

Using just his fingers, South Korean ASMR artist Seung Ju (“Veiled”) produces noises that seem as if they’re in the room with you. In this video, you’ll hear a variety of soothing sounds: rubbing with bare hands, rubbing with wet foamy sounds, creamy rubbing sounds, and some Korean whispering thrown in (with English subtitles).

4. ASMR [4K] Plucking Away Negativity & Affirming You by FrivolousFox ASMR

FrivolousFox melds traditional ASMR sounds with uplifting language to put your mind at ease. In this clip, she softly whispers reassuring words to let you know everything is going to be okay and that you deserve to feel better.

5. Top ASMR triggers by Madelaine Petsch

Get to know the Riverdale star on another level as she explores several ASMR triggers. In a soft whisper, Petsch flips through books, draws on a piece of paper and brushes her hair to ensure head-to-toe tingles.

Additional reporting by Jasmine Clark.