It's hard to find time in our busy lives, especially when we can be bombarded with messages, emails, and news at every hour of the day. Taking a minute to stop, breathe and reflect has numerous health benefits, but it's often overlooked in our busy schedules. Here are some simple ways to relax and take away the stress of the city. 1. Eat some chocolate You don't have to binge, but just one square of chocolate has been proven to calm peoples nerves. Dark chocolate, just like r

It's the first time in history that more people are living in cities around the world than in country and rural areas. Currently, over 54% of us reside in the hustle bustle of city life. It's predicted that by 2040, it will be over 70% of the global population. It's important for us to recognise the pressure that exists from living in a city, and as the population increases, so will the sensory experience of living in a confined area. Traffic noise, pollution and peak hour ar

If you've ever lived in the country and then moved closer to a city then you know how drastically different the soundscapes can be. In the city your little ears are competing with the busy lives of thousands of others who drive cars, own pets, do the dishes late at night and sometimes, painfully, even their recycling. But perhaps you don't always have to sacrifice silence in order to be near the big smoke. There are some places in cities that are significantly quieter than ot

A natural by-product of the Australian housing boom has been an increase in commute time for the average Australian. According to Ford's commuter calculator, an average worker will spend the equivalent of 417 days commuting to and from the office in their lifetime. This adds up to 1.1 years either sitting behind the wheel or on a crowded train or bus. Time is just the tip of the iceberg when deciding what house price to settle for compared to the distance to the office. There

You wouldn't dream of buying a property without a building inspection. The risk of damp, termites, poor electrical systems, structural damage, a leaking roof and much more makes a $600 inspection look very cheap and attractive. It also has the benefit of giving you a chance to negotiate a better price for any minor issues identified. In reality, there's another costly risk which causes just as much trouble for new homeowners. New data from NoiseNet reveals 25% of people say

1. Downsizing can shrink your costs It’s no news that big homes are expensive to run, (especially the one with plenty of room s and a large garden). Your maintenance costs might as well increase if it's an older property (and you can least afford it when they always seem to come along). Less bathroom running water and fewer rooms to light means smaller bills. Downsizing is no news an efficient way to reduce your bills. 2. Minimised stress Less responsibility, greater fl

Buying your first home is a big step and if you haven’t done it before, it’s natural that you won’t have all the necessary experience to avoid the traps. Here are the most common mistakes made and some advice on how you can transverse them on your way to own your first set of bricks and mortar. 1. You start looking before you have the all-clear. Don’t consider properties until you have already made contact with your bank. There’s no point in looking for homes if you aren’t su

Ocean waves are tumbling and crashing on the shore. Up the hill from the beach, a car alarm begins to sound. The little dog in the house with the brown fence is suddenly scared, he lifts his nose and begins to howl. Crash, beep - beep, woof. That's a lot of noise - but did you know it might kill you? Yes, you read it right, exposure to noise has been proven to increase your chance of dying sooner, and the following conditions are just the start. 1. Tiredness Interrupted sleep

You wouldn’t dream of buying a property without a building inspection, but what about the things you can’t see? Australian startup NoiseNet is helping people listen before they buy and make an informed purchasing choice. NoiseNet is proud to announce the launch of a new service which will revolutionise the home buying experience. The new ‘Property Noise Rating’ has been launched on the 14th of February and is a simple way to find out if your new home has a noise problem. To g

As our lives are moving faster and faster and we are increasingly "always on". Noise is taking a toll on our minds and bodies. The cacophony of sound makes our lives stressful which impacts on our bodies through higher levels of stress hormones, damage to our immune system and impairing our bodies ability to repair and rebuild. A small but growing minority of people have realised the impact that noise has to their productivity, health and wellbeing and are looking for ways to

According to Andrea Bartz in Harpers Bazaar, street noise is getting louder. The major reason for this? Nobody is doing anything about it. Traffic noise in New York is between 70 and 85 decibels. Other cities in Europe show levels which exceed 55 decibels, while anything over 30 decibels can disturb sleep or learning. Noise is harmful to children’s learning and to our health, too many people underestimate the consequences of noise. In Australia's cities, traffic noise often e