The healing power of silence: Neuroscientists have discovered that certain kinds of quiet can improve our mental and physical health But what gives the biggest benefits, and how much do we really need?
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For centuries we’ve known the importance of quietness: in many religions, silence is promoted as a vital healing process In modern times however, many of us are living in environments that are too noisy
In fact, in 2018, @WHO diagnosed noise as an “underestimated threat” to public health, and a 2020 report from the European Environment Agency concluded that noise was an ongoing and widespread problem in Europe
The good news is that researchers, like Eric Pfeifer at the Catholic University of Applied Sciences, are hard at work trying to find a solution Alongside making our environments quieter, they are seeking to understand what aspects of silent experiences are most beneficial
It turns out some are more beneficial for us than others Some of the kinds of quiet Eric Pfeifer has studied include silence experienced alone, or in a group, inside and outside, with instruction or without, or even silence paired with episodes of relaxing music
All types of silence led to improved mood and increased relaxation in most people But some were better than others. Periods of silence in a natural setting, when combined with a therapist to guide them with intermittent relaxing music or meditation, offered the best results
But you don’t need to invest in therapy or learn how to meditate to benefit from some peace and quiet. Silence is more attainable in everyday life than people think, says Eric Pfeifer
First of all, complete silence isn’t necessary. In fact, many people prefer sitting quietly in an outdoor garden than in a completely silent room
Secondly, we don’t need long bouts of silence to gain benefits Improvements to relaxation and stress relief can occur in sessions that last less than 10 minutes - so even a few minutes’ peace in a bathroom can be helpful in managing physiological responses to our noisy world!
There are some people who won’t benefit from silence, says Eric Pfeifer, particularly those who are in a heightened state of stress “People in these states may not be able to relax or calm down in a silent condition.”
“We are so overstimulated by sound that just finding those places in your daily life where you can find some silence and trying to emphasise those can make a big difference,” says Eric Pfeifer Learn more about the benefits of silence:
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