If you’re into health and wellness, you’ve probably heard about white noise machines. These have become more popular in recent years for good reason. They have significant scientific support, and many users also report that they improve their everyday experience. Why specifically should you buy one? Why would you put one in your room when you’re trying to sleep?
They mask disruptive noise
The primary reason why people invest in white noise machines is that they want to block out unwanted sounds, particularly at night. These include things like:
- Partners snoring
- Traffic from outside
- Neighbors making noise
The problem of living in a noisy environment is that it can suddenly jolt you out of sleep and keep you awake at night. When you have a white noise machine, it creates a sort of sound that makes you feel safe and secure. Of course, this doesn’t work on everyone, since people have different psychologies, but most people find it very effective.
They promote faster sleep onset
Are you one of those people who struggles to get to sleep quickly at night? If so, then you might also want to look into using a white noise machine. Research shows that these devices can help improve sleep onset time by reducing the amount of time it takes to get to sleep. White noise machines seem to do this through a number of channels, but the main ones appear to be reducing resting heart rate and respiratory rate. Once these systems slow down, the body feels more relaxed and is able to sleep more quickly.
This technology is particularly helpful for shift workers or people with tinnitus. It can mask ringing and provide exceptional tinnitus relief. Just be careful that the white noise isn’t too loud. If the volume is too high, it can disrupt REM sleep.
They help create a consistent sleep cue
Another reason to choose white noise machines is their ability to create sleep cues. These are helpful because they provide a signal to your psychology that it’s time to sleep.
Most people are looking at their phones at night or having conversations. In the worst cases, they’re sending emails to their bosses, but once you turn on the white noise machine, that’s an unconscious signal that you need to go to sleep.
Versatility beyond sleep
Finally, white noise machines have benefits that go beyond just sleep. These days, you can get lots of different types of generic noises that have different functions. For example, modern machines have white noise, yes, but they also have pink noise, which is a bit like listening to rain outside. You may also benefit from brown noise, which has deeper rumbles, or other types of sound like nature tracks.
You can take your white noise machine wherever you go, so for example, if you feel like you need to calm down on a long drive somewhere, you can put it on in the background.
There are also white noise machines with snooze functions and timers, so you can plan your exposure.
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