In this world full of constant sounds it can be hard to remember the value of silence. We hear noises all the time from the hum of our refrigerator to the clickety-clack of clothes in the dryer. Outside is not much better unless you live in the country. I hear constant road noise, sirens and the beeping of heavy machinery backing up all day long. This kind of noise, when it is constant and/or very loud, can put us on edge and make us agitated or stressed out.
Do you ever crave a moment of peace and quiet? With our lives becoming increasingly busy and noisy, finding silence in day-to-day life is becoming more and more difficult. Yet studies have found that taking a few moments to simply be still can have a profound effect on our well-being and sense of self. It can bring you peace and mindfulness as well as give you the ability to focus and think things through.
I long for the summer and time spent in the country at our cottage. It is so quiet there. Maybe birds chirping and squirrels chattering but that’s about it. I love silence! It is so peaceful and gives me a chance to focus and concentrate on things without constant interruptions. I get to think endlessly, write, read or do whatever it is I’m doing with complete immersion and focus and you can too.
Silence is something many people are not comfortable with. I used to be one of those people. When my kids were young the TV was turned on as soon as we got up and stayed on whether we were watching it or not. It was just background noise. Nowadays that kind of background noise annoys me.
So how do we carve out time to contemplate silence? I have a few suggestions but would love to hear your ideas and ways that you find time for silence.
Carving out time
- Go for a walk in nature. It may not be complete silence but you’ll hear pleasant nature sounds instead of electronic blips and beeps, background household noises and the chatter of other people.
- Wake up earlier. This was my private time when my kids were school-aged. I set my alarm to get me up 1/2 hour before the rest of the house. I had time to meditate, do daily affirmations and journal in total silence. This time could be combined with my first suggestion and become an early morning walk.
- Try doing your housecleaning, cooking, or driving without all the background noise (TV, radio, music, etc..). Pay close attention to what you are doing. Practice mindfulness with each task and feel the difference with silence.
- Set boundaries when it comes to electronics. For example, don’t use the TV for background noise. It’s only on if someone is watching it. If you have children or others in the house using phones, tablets, or whatever to watch videos insist that they wear headphones so everyone else doesn’t have to hear it. Make a rule that electronics are not allowed at the dinner table or during certain hours of the day. Find something that works for you so you aren’t bombarded with the cacophony of multiple ‘noises’ going on at the same time.
No Excuses
For many, especially the younger set, they use the fear of missing out as an excuse for having a phone with them at all times. This isn’t necessary and should be addressed and talked about.
For the adults in the home, we often feel guilty for taking time for ourselves. Again, there is no excuse. You deserve time for yourself and need to take it so you can be your best self. We take our phones everywhere ‘just in case’ but before we had cell phones people got along just fine without being available to everyone at all times. This gets overwhelming and isn’t good for our mental health.
Maybe you are one of those people who are not comfortable with silence. I would suggest you try to start getting used to it. Being out in nature is a great way to start as it isn’t total silence. Even if it means just sitting out in your backyard or a park for a few minutes listening to the sounds of nature or shutting the TV off when you are home by yourself. Try 5 minutes to start and work your way up. You’ll be surprised at the peace you will find.
Peace and quiet; that’s what I crave. And I don’t mean I never want to see another person, hear someone speak or even listen to music.
I enjoy the company of family and friends. Especially without the distraction of electronics, radio or TV, or loads of background noise.
I like to be able to have a conversation without yelling to be heard.
I like to engage with the person/people who are present.
I enjoy talking to my husband.
I like to go out into nature and hear nothing but the sounds of nature.
I like to think about things, and come up with ideas or solutions, in peace.
I prefer to choose when I want to listen to music, TV, podcasts and whatnot.
Conclusion
How do you fit silence into your daily life? Do you? Doing so can lead to a happier, healthier lifestyle where you feel more peace and less stress.
Are you, even now, making excuses for why you can’t find a few moments of silence? Take a close look at your excuses and your daily schedule. I’m sure you could find 5 minutes in there somewhere.
Let’s hear how you carve out time for silence every day (or most days). And please, if you know others who need to hear this message, go ahead and share this on your social media so more people can get the message about silence. Have a super awesome day!
Roze
RazzWorks 
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