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Cultures around the world once valued quiet, be it through meditation, prayer, or reflecting in nature. Today, city traffic bustles outside while devices beep and buzz right in our palms. With the calming impact of silence, it may be time to return to the art of quiet.
A noisy world has health ramifications, explains The Guardian. Excessive noise has been linked to a rise in cardiovascular disease, hearing loss, plus anxiety and depression. There is also a connection between chronic noise exposure and trouble learning among schoolchildren.
The restorative and healthy properties of silence are now grounded in science. A study in Heart initially set out to research music’s effect on the body. According to the results, while music affected physiology, the most significant drop in blood pressure and heart rate occurred during the two-minute periods of silence between tracks.
The Benefits of Quiet
According to ABC News 4, the benefits extend beyond stress relief; silence plays a role in overall well-being. A study in Brain Structure & Function found that mice exposed to two hours of silence per day developed new cells in the hippocampus — a region connected to memory and learning. This suggests that spending time in quiet environments might help the brain.
Spending structured times in silence is also beneficial to the brain as people age, protecting them against cognitive decline, according to ABC News 4. Important quiet time also helps older adults improve memory and reduce anxiety. It may also help people better regulate their emotions.
Rediscovering Silence
The research shows that silence does not need to be long or absolute to make a difference. It just takes about two hours of accumulated quiet time throughout the day to make a positive difference.
Whether in a natural setting, during breaks, or at home, those quiet moments may have measurable effects on health. Try to take a walk without listening to music or beginning your day without checking your phone.
These brief moments are times of “acoustic tranquility,” Joshua Smyth, a professor of health psychology, tells The Guardian. “It might be near-silence, or a sound that is soothing to me,” Smyth adds. “If I’m in a noise-filled context, I’ll take ‘sound snacks,’ where I’ll leave that environment for a brief period, or create a new one.”
Quiet is a Gift
People are so accustomed to living with noise, they may at first be uneasy without sound, feeling empty while in a quiet setting. Yet quiet is a lost gift. “Silence is not the absence of something but the presence of everything,” says Gordon Hempton, an acoustic ecologist.
Turn down the volume and bask in the silence. Enjoy a few ‘sound snacks’ a day to invite more calm into your life. Finding quiet time in a hectic day is available to all and its benefits are truly golden.
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