Silence Is Golden – A Tip For A Stress Free New Year

January 1, 2010 by Rachel Lerner
Filed under Featured, Health, Self

New Years Day. The parties are over, the weekly gatherings gone, and for many today is a day for resolutions, and perhaps a bit of recuperation. It’s often a day of reflection and relaxation, but few of us realize that taking some of today’s silence into the year ahead could be very beneficial . Rachel Lerner tells us just how golden a little silence can be.

Many organizations, such as Cornell University, the Acoustical Society of America, have run studies which link unwanted sound to increased levels of stress. Even low-level noise has been linked to stress related problems such as increased aggression, heart disease, poor sleep patterns and high blood pressure. We all lead busy and stressful lives that I thought the following 5 tips for increasing moments of silence in our daily life might help us feel better and live healthier lives:

1) Start each day with silence. Before diving head-on into your day take 10-12 minutes to meditate, stretch, read or any other “silent” activity. According to the National Institutes of Health, our cortisol levels (stress hormone produced by adrenals) are highest from 6-8am.

2) Drive in silence. There are so many noises in our daily routine which we cannot control, find small ways to create silence, such as driving without the radio and getting in touch with your thoughts.

3) Eat your meals without watching television or other distractions. Mindful eating helps us enjoy our food more because we are actually tuned into our body’s satiety signals, allowing us to metabolize our food more efficiently.

4) Exercise in silence. No ipods, television or reading materials when exercising really help us pay attention to everything the body is doing (breathing, posture, etc.) and when done outside, silence is the best way to appreciate out surroundings.

5) Pre-bedtime silence. Before heading to sleep take 10 minutes to slow-down and switch gears. Our minds do not always shut-off when we want them to. Incorporating a silent meditation practice can help ease your mind.

Silence really is golden when we take the time to listen!