How to find silence in a noisy world

Author:

Steve

Published:

August 17, 2021

Updated:

August 31, 2023

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Noisy world? Check. Busy schedule? Check. Fuzzy thoughts? Double check.

If you’re like the rest of us, it’s hard to find a moment for silence in your day-to-day life, and even harder to maintain it when you do have time for yourself.

But we can’t afford silence any less than we can’t afford sleep – both are essential for our well being and productivity. So how do you find peace in a loud world? Read on.

In a world that feels like it is constantly buzzing, we need to find ways to escape the chaos. One way to do so is by finding silence.

The problem with this, however, is that there are few places left where we can find true silence and serenity.

With the constant noise around us of traffic, media, email, mobile phones and even our own thoughts, it’s difficult to quiet your mind enough for peace and contemplation.

All you need is 5 minutes

You don’t have to go far in order to find some time alone: all you need are five minutes.

That may sound impossible given how busy life gets these days; but if you take just five minutes out of every hour during your day for solitude and introspection – as well as five minutes out of every day for physical activity – you will see your life change.

Take 5 minutes to:

Find your way back to nature by spending time with animals or being in natural settings; these environments have been shown to reduce stress levels and promote feelings of peace and happiness.

Create a “no electronics zone” at home which will allow for hours of family time together without any distractions; make this area comfortable with lots of pillows (and maybe even some snacks) so everyone can relax while they’re there.
Soak in the benefits of sunlight by working outside on a nice day, or simply sitting near an open window if you have to stay indoors. This allows your body to get the vitamin D it needs to function properly and regulates your internal clock.
Don’t forget about exercise! Whether it’s going for a walk, running with friends or riding your bike, physical activity releases endorphins that improve mood.

Find time for yourself and start making mindfulness part of your daily routine – even if it’s just for five minutes at a time. Start small: take off your shoes and feel how soft the ground is beneath them; look out the window and really see what’s there; listen closely to the sounds that you hear; and make sure to note your thoughts as you breathe in and out.
You will find that, the more often you spend time in silence with yourself, the easier it will be to quiet your mind when it gets hectic.

Meditation can help you to find silence

Meditation has been linked to stress relief, reduced blood pressure and increased levels of concentration over time; it also helps people to fall asleep faster at night and wake up more refreshed in the morning.

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It gives us a way to quiet our minds that we often don’t prioritize as much anymore because we live in a culture so focused on productivity (and yes, busyness too).

If you are able to find stillness through meditation even for just five minutes each day, you will see major changes in your overall well being and in the way you approach your work.

Try the 5 minute rule

The five minute rule is as follows: Before you start getting ready for work, take a few minutes to check in with yourself physically, emotionally and spiritually – it’s a great exercise to do every day.

1) First, lie down or even sit comfortably on a chair (with good back support) if that feels more comfortable. Close your eyes and focus on the rise and fall of your breath. Don’t try to control how fast or slow your breathe goes; just let it be at its own pace. Feel each inhale lift your body ever so slightly off the ground before letting it fall down again; repeat this action about six times before moving on to the next step.

2) As you continue to breathe normally and naturally, assess your mood. If you feel agitated or angry, try to figure out why that might be – is there anything causing you stress? Do you not want to go into work today and are stressed about what you have planned for the day? Try keeping a journal of when these negative emotions occur so that you can look back at it later if need be in order to understand where your frustrations come from; don’t judge yourself for feeling this way just let it pass through like water off a duck’s back.

3) Find one positive thing about yourself or even something simple like enjoying the color blue that will help center your mind on positivity instead of negativity.

4) Once you feel calm and at ease, think about what you’re grateful for in your life – maybe it’s an amazing partner or friend, good health or a great talent that helps to make your world go round. If you really can’t think of anything, focus on the things that are absolutely necessary to keep you alive like food and shelter; use this as a way to appreciate how fortunate we all are.

5) Finally, think about three things that make you happy – they could be something tangible like a vacation spot or something intangible like an idea (like starting up a new project); take note of these three things so that when the going gets tough later in the day you can remember how lucky you are.

Once you feel restored and ready to get back up, take five minutes to stretch out your muscles; afterwards, go about your day with a fresh and open mindset that will help you be more productive in the long run.

This rule can also be applied during some of the other moments during your days – especially those that would normally be dedicated to personal time like when you’re waiting for the bus or in between meetings at work.

Try using this guide as an alternative means of refocusing yourself if only momentarily throughout each day; I promise it will make a difference.

Ways You Can Practice The Five Minute Rule

• Eat lunch outside whenever possible (weather permitting). Think about the fact that most office buildings don’t have many windows or skylights so this rule can help you to get some natural sunlight into your day.

• If you normally eat lunch in front of your computer, take time out to leave the building and find a place where you can breathe fresh air and enjoy the outdoors.

• Instead of mixing work with pleasure like checking Facebook or Twitter on your phone, try to keep these activities more separate from one another; if necessary clear out some of those notifications (at least temporarily) so that they’re not distracting you when it’s time to get down to business.

There are also many other ways that this five minute rule will work for you but how much time do we really have in the day?

The more time we spend on ourselves, the less time spent running around trying to keep up with everything else.

I know that I’ve been guilty of not following this rule and it can be a real challenge to stay focused when you have so much going on; but, if you want to get ahead, remember that the only way to do so is by taking care of yourself first.

The five minute rule can be managed pretty easily and doesn’t take too much effort or time out of your day (although it may feel like it sometimes) – just think about getting outside for lunch.

Or how about listening to some music while working out instead of turning on your computer?

In those spare minutes, I’m sure you can find time to dedicate a few moments to yourself and come back refreshed and ready for anything.

Final Words

My time management skills are far from perfect but I’ve noticed that taking care of myself first makes me a more productive person in the long run.

It also allows me to be nicer towards others, which is not only better for my professional relationships but also helps me to feel happier and more fulfilled as an individual.

I hope you find this guide useful; if all else fails, just remember how amazing it feels when your mind is completely clear and open – it’s like being reborn in some way.

The 5 minute rule will really help you put things into perspective one day at a time so why not give it a try?

You may be surprised by how much better you feel after incorporating it into your daily routine.