You may know them as white noise machines, but sound therapy machines are much more than that. One of my tips for getting a more restful sleep is to use a sound therapy machine to block out unwanted sound. Instead of using earplugs to block sound entirely, I’ve found that replacing annoying sounds with ones much more pleasant to sleep to has really made me feel much more relaxed, resulting in a more peaceful sleep.

It’s the time of year when people are thinking about gifts to get for their loved ones; a time of year when in response to the question “how are you?”, most people respond with “busy!” I can bet you that with all this “busyness” comes a lack of sleep. All most people want for Christmas is more sleep. This series on how to sleep better naturally shares my tips and experience trying to get a better night’s sleep. All tools and suggestions have been tested by myself and a good friend of mine (who has a lot of trouble getting a good night’s sleep). 

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a small amount of money. This post was created in partnership with Sound+Sleep Mini.

What types of sounds relax you? I bet the new Sound+Sleep Mini has an option available to emulate your favourite soothing sounds. There are 12 distinct sound profile categories (all scientifically engineered to promote deeper sleep, relaxation, and renewal):

I turn on the Sound+Sleep Mini as part of my before-bed ritual. When I return to my room from brushing my teeth, I hear the sound of the ocean or rain (if it’s actually raining outside, I turn on the ocean option). This allows me to feel relaxed while I sit in bed and read for a bit. The sounds are naturally recorded, so they work well to put me into a relaxed state of mind, making it easier to have a good night’s sleep. 

My friend Alex had a nap while using the Sound+Sleep Mini and loved using the ocean sound. He said it sounded just like Hornby Island, where he spends part of his summer every year with his family.

A few features of the Sound+Sleep Mini that I like are Sound Richness control (volume control), audio line out (so you can listen via headphones), and the adaptive feature (which changes the volume based on how loud the area is).

If you’re someone who travels a lot, I would recommend putting batteries in this device and taking it with you. You’ll be able to have a good night’s sleep and keep to your sleep routine.