A place becomes yours partly through knowing what its noises mean.

Familiarity is largely a matter of decoded sound. In a new flat every noise is a question: what was that, is it a problem, should I get up. After a few months the pipes, the neighbour’s routine, the particular way the front door closes have all been translated, and the same sounds now pass without waking you. The building did not get quieter. You acquired the key.

If you have moved recently and cannot settle, name the noises deliberately rather than waiting to adjust. And be patient with yourself for being tired; decoding a place is real work.