Welcome to Day 55 of the Wellbeing 9-a-Day blog! Over the past couple of days, we’ve looked at ways you can approach your Nourishing goals and boost your nutrition. In today’s blog, I start looking at Self-caring, starting with the health benefits you can enjoy when spending some time in silence each day.
Information Overload
Nowadays, we are all more connected than ever. Technology gives us access to any form of entertainment we want at a moment’s notice. Our smartphones, computers, laptops, tablets, and smart watches keep us within a few clicks of the seemingly limitless content online.
Social media platforms give us the chance to scroll down our screens without end, while messaging services and mobile phones mean we can be contacted by almost anyone at any time.
Add to these traditional media like news, television, and radio, and it’s a wonder we ever get anything done.
Being so connected has a lot of benefits. It is easier than ever to learn new knowledge and skills, with platforms such as Wikipedia and YouTube providing a phenomenal amount of information and educational content free of charge.
For our connections, it is easier than ever to stay in touch with friends and family, even if you are in different continents.
The price we pay for all these luxuries is that it can be hard to find time in the stillness.
The Sound of Silence
For as long as I can remember, I have always enjoyed having something on in the background.
When I was a kid, I shared a bedroom with my brother and would always fall asleep to the sounds of movies. For a long time, I would struggle to fall asleep without the TV playing.
While I no longer need the TV playing to sleep, I often write with movies playing in the background. Multiple house moves have seen my once massive DVD collection reduce to 200 or so of Das Beste movies, with the rest of my needs more than adequately covered by the advent of streaming services.
When I go for walks or drives, I often use the time to listen to audiobooks or music. Even when I do my box breathing, it is rarely in silence.
The problem with all this is that I leave myself little time in quiet. That’s why I have recently added silence into my Self-caring routine.
Research shows that silence can lower blood pressure, improve concentration and focus, calm racing thoughts, stimulate brain growth and creativity, and encourage mindfulness.
While all these benefits are reason enough to enjoy some silence each day, the moments away from the noise are reason enough to give myself the gift of silence each day.
Call to Action!
Find time for some silence today. Whether inside or outside, give yourself the gift of silence, away from the noise of life. If you find that it helps, why not include a few minutes of silence in your Self-caring goal each day?
This blog was written as part of a 90-day blog writing fundraiser for Live Well with Cancer, a volunteer-led charity serving North Tyneside and the surrounding areas. If you enjoyed this blog, please show your appreciation by donating to my JustGiving page. Every penny raised from donations or sales of the journal will help deliver workshops, events and support groups that empower better health and wellbeing for those affected by cancer, including family, friends, carers, and healthcare workers.
Comments