It’s not surprising that noise does more than distract us. Yet it’s not always easy to find or cultivate silence in loud places, such as the center of a thriving metropolis.
What do you do when your life gets noisy? When simple thoughts become extraordinarily loud, when your notifications just won’t stop dinging, or when the conversations in your house or office replicate the persistent nature of your 6am alarm clock.
Noise can be hard to escape, which is exactly why we are intentionally building a sanctuary in the midst of our city that gives us space for silence. Welcome to trove, your opportunity for true noise reduction (no sound canceling headphones necessary.)
We went on a mission to discover how this would benefit you, and what we found was even more than we initially suspected. The benefits of silence are truly overwhelming.
Here are 5 ways a quiet space will support your wellbeing:
1. Reduced stress & anxiety. Constant exposure to noise can increase stress levels and lead to higher levels of anxiety. It can be hard to hear ourselves think, let alone feel, when we’re constantly surrounded by noise. Finding quiet in loud places can provide a sense of renewed calm and relaxation, which helps us return to our center.
2. Increased focus & productivity. When there is too much noise, it can be challenging to concentrate on specific tasks. Finding a quiet place can help to improve focus and productivity, enabling you to get more work done and stay tuned in to what’s truly important.
“Freed from the external stimulus of noise, our brains can better concentrate on the task at hand. This can have benefits for our work, education, relationships, and more.”*
3. Improved creativity. Noise can be distracting and hinder your creative thinking. By finding a quiet place, you can free your mind from distractions and allow your creative juices to flow freely.
Periods of downtime have been found to increase productivity and improve problem-solving.*
“Learning to ‘digest’ our thoughts and quiet the mind can help make room for sparks of creativity and inspired action.”*
4. Get a better sleep. Loud noise can disrupt your sleep and lead to exhaustion, which we all know isn’t supportive for a general sense of wellbeing. Finding a quiet place can help you to relax and get a good night’s sleep, which is essential for your physical and mental health.
5. Improved communication. When there’s too much noise, it can be challenging to communicate effectively. By finding a quiet place, you can minimize distractions to have more meaningful conversations with those around you.
We also found plenty of research that supports a great reduction in stress & anxiety when we are able to be in silence, as we reduce cortisol levels & allow our nervous systems to return to center.
“An accumulation of unpleasant noise can lead to mental stress and an excess release of cortisol,” says clinical psychologist Martine Prunty, PhD.
“When it becomes elevated, it can lead to weight gain, feelings of significant overwhelm, difficulties sleeping, and chronic diseases.”*
Overall, finding a quiet place amidst the noise can have numerous benefits for your physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.
trove will be your quiet space amidst the noise, and we are beyond excited to open our doors to offer you the silence your nourishment is seeking.
Coming fall 2023. Join our email list for bi-weekly blog posts and updates in the meantime. The link is in our bio
*Source: 8 Physical and Mental Health Benefits of Silence, Plus How to Get More of It
trove