My mom claims I stopped sleeping well when I was 8 years old, so I'm pretty much a pro when it comes to calming exercises, sleep meds, and, hey, even stuffed animals (I'll try anything that's supposed to help you get some shuteye). While keeping Mutsy tucked under my right arm is comforting when I’m tossing and turning, he doesn’t have quite the same powerful lulling influence as my Marpac Dohm-DS All-Natural White Noise Sound Machine. I started using the Dohm eight years ago, after my doctor recommended it—and boy, has it made a difference in my sleep quality.

Marpac Dohm-DS All-Natural White Noise Sound Machinepinterest
Courtesy of Marpac Dohm

Buy it: $50, Amazon.com

Before the Dohm, I found it nearly impossible to quiet my mind. I'd spend three or four hours turning thoughts over in my head, replaying the day's activities, and mentally making the next day's to-do list. I'm still not what I'd call a pro at calming down at night, but the Dohm makes it so that I can fall asleep in half the time. And it's all thanks to the machine's monotonous soundtrack, which fills my head, thereby pushing out distractions, and gives me something to focus on other than my frenzied thoughts.

RELATED: 8 Ways To Turn Off Your Brain So You Can Actually Sleep At Night

Unlike other noise machines and phone apps that mimic the crash of ocean waves or the croak of rainforest-dwelling frogs, the Dohm releases an even blanket of a soothing sound, similar to the whirring of a fan. Because its ambient hum blends into the background, it's far more natural of a lullaby than the sounds of, say, “Crowded Room” or “Camp Fire." The Dohm offers two speeds, high and low, and both envelop the room with a steady whir that’s just loud enough to lightly mask any unwanted noise.

The machine is so good that it's even "the Official Sound Conditioner of the National Sleep Foundation."

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The machine and I have graduated from high school, college, and graduate school together, moved a handful of times. It's safe to say that we’re in a very committed relationship. And if you’re anything like me (I like to think of it as “sleep-anxious”), you know that any amount of money is worth an actually quality night of Zzz’s. So at just $50 on Amazon, why not give the Dohm a go?

Headshot of Elizabeth Bacharach
Elizabeth Bacharach
Elizabeth Bacharach is the Assistant Editor at Women’s Health where she writes and edits content about mental and physical health, food and nutrition, sexual health, and lifestyle trends across WomensHealthMag.com and the print magazine. She has a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University, lives in New York City, and dreams of becoming best friends with Ina Garten, who is, undeniably, an absolute queen.