Turning Down The Noise
Ever get the feeling during the day that you've got too much information running through your head? Do you feel like your daily life is one non-stop barrage of TV, internet, texting, Facebook, Twitter, radio, music, YouTube and advertisements? Feel like you are obliged to document every moment in your life with a photo or video? Do you spend more time downloading, uploading, sharing, organizing and managing those moments than you do actually enjoying them?
As our brains have become more practiced at processing information in digital bits, snippets and soundbites, there are profound changes occurring in our minds that are changing the way we think and act. Our lack of "quiet" time away from all of the noise is leaving us more disheveled, distracted, absent minded, and forgetful. This shift in our consciousness has spurned several studies which show ironically that the more information we attempt to process, the less we actually learn about each thing we do process. The only thing multi-tasking has been shown to improve is one's ability to multi-task. Each of the tasks you are doing are being done with less skill and efficiency.
This overstimulation of our minds at the hands of today's electronically tethered socially networked society has many people feeling mentally exhausted at the end of each day with little or no down time to recharge. So how do you give yourself a break from all the noise and electric clutter and get a chance to calm down and reboot? One word: Silence.
Even 20 minutes of silence can make a difference in letting your mind relax and regenerate. Regeneration is key to being able to rise to the occasion each day with enthusiasm and not feel like you are struggling to tread water while your head is slowly dipping below the surface. If you have new goals you have set for yourself in 2012, start by giving yourself some peace and quiet from the noise each day. It will go a lot farther in helping you reach those goals than you might think. Just like diet, health and exercise there is no magic "silence" pill. It comes down to you enacting the change, making some time for yourself during the day or evening when you turn off the phone, TV, computer, kids and whatever else is providing the noise.
The easiest way to achieve silence is to simply to set aside a 10 or 20 minute block of time one or more times a day with no distractions where you have silence and a lack of stimulation. A 10 minute morning, midday, and evening break would be ideal. I am a realist however, and I know that this is often hard to find on a regular basis in your busy life. Getting total silence is at the top of the list. When you can't get total silence, there are ways to turn the volume down on today's noise that will give you a chance to recharge. Here are a few tips for stealing silence during your busy day.
- Untether yourself from your phone. Mobile phones are great, I use one regularly. Ask yourself though how many of the calls, texts and visits to social network sites are necessary, and how many are just out of habit. When you are on your phone your attention is distracted, your posture is horrible (there is actually now a medical condition called "text-neck") and you are not paying attention to the world you are living in. Your attention is diverted from what is in front of you and it reinforces the distracted over stimulated pattern. Say all you want that you are not distracted when you are on your phone, but all of the science refutes it. And while you choose to deal with some "angry birds" there are actual real birds all around you that are a pleasure to see. I was out on a hike last week up a beautiful trail and saw a woman hiking the same trail with her head down typing on her phone. Amazing.
- Enjoy the drive. We all spend plenty of time in our cars and in our increasingly busy lives they have transformed from transportation to a mobile command center. Eating, putting on make-up, brushing teeth, talking, listening to music, writing notes, even reading! When I make mobile calls, have music going and drive the fast lane with fervor all at once, I notice that by the end of the day I feel drained when I step out of my car at home. I now try to make a conscious effort to talk mainly out of necessity for business, turn my radio off a lot of the time, and slow down when I drive. I take it as some quiet time where I let my brain relax and just focus on the here and now of driving my vehicle and enjoying the drive. I sit back and enjoy the ride and I'll tell you what, I come home feeling refreshed.
- Turn off your TV. Television is a constant part of daily life. As advertisers look for ways to keep their share of our distracted attention, they employ all sorts of tricks to keep you engaged. Commercials that are louder than the show you are watching, shorter quicker clips and edits, camera techniques that keep you fixed on the screen. All of these tactics add to our over stimulated state of mind. The less you watch the better off you are. Budget your TV time wisely, and trade out for something like reading, listening to music, writing a letter to a friend or playing a board game with your family. These will allow you to actually engage the people around you, rather than just receiving the input from your set.
- Get outside. I can't stress this enough. Breathing fresh air, taking in the world around you, a hike with family or friends, going to the park, a farmers market, or a walk are all things you can do outside. It is especially easy in winter time when the days are shorter and weather less inviting to just cocoon up and stay indoors. Get outside anyway. It will provide much needed physical and mental exercise that can clear your head and rejuvenate your body.
The first step to making a change is being aware that you need it. Take notice of how much of your day is distracted and over stimulated and use these tips to help break those patterns and replenish your body and mind.
Until next time, enjoy the (quieter) ride.
About Derin Stockton
Born and raised in Santa Barbara, California, Derin grew up riding bicycles and racing competitively. At the age of 20 Derin went pro and was offered a spot on the Dutch professional cycling team TVM/Rango. Competing successfully both abroad and stateside, Derin progressed from road cycling to downhill BMX where he continued making a mark with his cycling career. After 19 straight seasons of racing Derin left the competition world to pursue designing and development of mountain bike tires and to help other athletes achieve their goals as a motocross and personal trainer.