It turns out you’re not the only one having a hard time sleeping as of late. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one in three Americans are sleeping less than the recommended seven hours a night on a regular basis. Some of the major contributing factors to a poor night’s sleep? Stress and anxiety.

With an ongoing global pandemic on top of all of our typical worries, stress isn’t exactly in short supply in many of our lives. Very quickly, sleep deprivation and anxiety can combine into a vicious cycle: Anxiety makes it harder to get a good night’s rest, and sleep deprivation contributes to even deeper anxiety. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, the combination of anxiety and sleep disorders can eventually lead to serious health problems — including high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, and other serious health conditions.

White noise can be an important tool to combat both sleeplessness and stress and help you achieve the rest you deserve.

What is white noise?

White noise describes the sound of every audible frequency playing at the same amplitude or volume. While this may seem like it’d be harsh, the result is actually a calming sound, not unlike gentle static. The sound gets its name from its similarity to white light, which features every visible color on the spectrum rather than sound.

White noise vs. the other colors

While it may seem confusing, there’s actually a whole rainbow of noise colors out there — including pink noise, brown noise, and black noise. Unlike the full-spectrum coverage of white noise, these other colors cover only a part of the spectrum for a different kind of impact. Both pink and brown noise, for example, focus more heavily in the lower frequencies. Black noise, meanwhile, is a term used to describe the “sound” of complete silence — the complete opposite of white noise.

While different hues work better for some people than others, white noise machines remain the most common and most often recommended. Because white noise contains all other frequencies, it’s more likely to cover up intrusive noises and aid with sleep. For many people, different hues of noise will sound almost identical to each other. For some people, however, other hues do a better job of promoting deep relaxation. For example, many people with tinnitus prefer brown and pink noise because the higher frequencies are aggravating to them.

How white noise can make a difference

Now that you understand the science behind white noise discover how it can improve your life: from better sleep and lessened stress to fewer distractions at work.

Reduced anxiety

A little relaxation — we all need it now more than ever. White noise can give you an added boost in this department. Because the hum of white noise is a pleasing sound for many people, it can help to induce a more relaxed state. By blocking out other sounds, white noise makes it easier to shut out the rest of the world and focus, as is necessary for practices like meditation that can aid sleep and reduce stress.

In addition to helping you mentally reset before going to bed, white noise can minimize stress in other parts of your life. For individuals who tend to be jittery in loud environments, like an office, white noise can provide solace and help keep the nerves down. While white noise certainly isn’t a cure-all for anxiety and shouldn’t be used in substitution of any recommended medication or therapy, it can be an impactful tool for many people.

Improved sleep

While it may seem counterintuitive to add extra background noise into your bedroom as you’re falling asleep, white noise machines are a game-changing addition to the sleep routine of many people — from the slightly tired to those suffering from more serious sleep disorders like insomnia.

White noise assists with sleep by blocking out other sounds that may be more intrusive to the sleep cycle. Typically, the noises that can wake us up don’t necessarily leave an impact because of their volume — rather, it’s the sudden transition between quiet and loud that catches the brain’s attention. White noise can smooth this out by keeping the volume level consistent and covering up some of the impact of any sudden sounds. For this reason, a white noise machine will sometimes also be called a sound masking system.

It’s important to note that a white noise machine isn’t an end-all-be-all solution for your sleepless nights. Taking steps toward proper sleep hygiene, like sticking to a sleep schedule and steering clear of caffeine, alcohol, and screen time before bed, can also have an outsized impact.

Fewer distractions (at night and at work!)

There’s nothing worse than being suddenly jolted awake by a barking dog or a loud crash outside. Getting woken in the midst of a REM cycle, the point when you’re at your deepest rest, can leave you with a rapidly beating heart and even affect mood if it happens regularly. One of the key benefits of a white noise machine is that it blocks out the sound of potential distractions — making it easier to fall asleep and wake back up on your own schedule.

Keeping the sounds of the outside world at bay isn’t only great at night. A white noise machine can also help you to stay focused at work, especially if your work-from-home setup isn’t as peaceful as it could be. From loud next-door neighbors to kids at school via Zoom, there are a lot of possible distractions to contend with on any given weekday. White noise helps you turn your home office into a personal oasis!

The white noise machine of your dreams

Ready to see if white noise could make a positive difference in your life?

The Lasko SlumberBreeze™ 2-in-1 Personal Fan is exactly the device you’re looking for. The SlumberBreeze 2-in-1 combines an easily customizable white noise machine with the kind of powerful temperature control you’d expect from Lasko. Choose from five different white noise settings and two distinct fan speeds. The fan’s compact size and sleek look mean it fits in well in any bedroom or home office.

And for more information on how the right fan can improve your life, check out our blog.

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