Why silence is good for you

By MiNDFOOD

Why silence is good for you
Is silence necessary for better brain function?

It is no secret that noise pollution is affecting more than just our sense of hearing. A WHO study found that noise pollution is providing health professionals with new evidence to suggest that environmental noise is the root of more health concerns than previously thought.

An oversaturation of images, sounds and white noise is a constant distraction in everyone’s life.

If you are seeking to escape the rat race and find solace in the peace and quiet of a simpler life, you wouldn’t be alone. Making time for silence can help you do more than just relax, it has the ability to increase focus, mental strength and creativity.

Relieves stress

Silence has the ability to relieve tension due to its calming nature. As loud music, incessant talking or bothersome background noise activates the brain’s amygdala, causing the release of the stress hormone cortisol, silence has the opposite effect.

Try these replenishing meditation tracks to help you find silence. 

Increases creativity

When you are separated from external stimuli, as in meditation, a whole new world of opportunity can open up to you. Processes like daydreaming are important for creativity and embracing the silence can help promote such invigorating activities.

Daydreaming is linked to “greater creativity, the ability to delay gratification, problem-solving, and future planning.” When asked to imagine four positive events happening in the immediate future, participants in a study reported overall increased levels of happiness as well.

Helps our mental strength

Partaking in meditative activities, where silence is encouraged, can help replenish our reserves and equip us with the ability to tackle life’s challenges.

Like depleting batteries on our smart phones, brains which are constantly activated due to stress can have their prefrontal cortex (responsible for high-order thinking and problem solving) drained.

Similarly, what do we do with batteries that are drained? We charge them. So whether you travel to a particular place to escape the daily grind, or simply tune out for a few minutes a day, it is important to “recharge” your batteries as often as possible.

Make meditation a part of your day with these mindful tips.

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