Why a Little Peace and Quiet is Good for Your Health
By Genevieve Cunningham
Peace and quiet. If you’re a young person, you may not be craving this just yet. Have kids? You’re probably rolling your eyes and wishing that you could have a simple five minutes of some quiet. The same can be said for people with hectic work schedules, loud friend groups, and many others. The truth is that we all crave a little peace and quiet from time to time. But is it actually more than that? Could it be that our bodies understand the health benefits of silence? Perhaps. If you feel the need to make time for silence in your life, take a look at these reasons to make it a priority today.
It Can Help Relieve Stress
Have you ever noticed that stress feels worse when it’s loud or chaotic in your environment? That’s because the outside reflects the inside. If you’re feeling a little stressed, and then you throw yourself in the midst of something loud and rowdy, your body can’t relax enough to let that stress go, and so you wind up more stressed than ever. Allowing yourself a little quiet time can help calm the body, ease the stress in the mind, and before you know it, you’re feeling peaceful despite the worries of the world.
It Restores Mental Wellness
Giving yourself some silence each day actually gives your brain a chance to rest and recuperate. Our brains are constantly being worked, and when it’s a stressful day, they’re being overworked. A little quiet time allows the brain to rest, which also allows your cognitive abilities to restore themselves. You might find that you can pay attention better, remember more easily, and just have better basic function in the mind after a little peace and quiet.
It Can Literally Heal Your Brain
Researchers believe that engaging in some silence can actually allow brain cells to grow. While it’s unclear how much silence is needed or how much healing can take place, steady silence every day has been shown to improve cognition -- especially memory and learning. If you want to keep the brain healthy, silence is a key aspect.
If you’re not getting enough (or any!) peace and quiet in your life, it’s time to make it a priority. The benefits that come with some quiet time are hard to beat. You’ll function better, feel better, and live a happier and healthier life for years to come.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Pooler, Ga.