Embrace the silence

When was the last time you stopped to appreciate a few minutes of silence? 

Pause and think about it.  

Instead of filling time by turning up the music or watching the latest viral video, find time today to welcome the quiet. 

According to Piedmont Healthcare, taking time to be still can help you become more productive. They offer three main mental and emotional benefits of practicing silence: 

The Mayo Clinic recommends meditation to find fast relief from stress to feel calm and balanced. Meditation doesn’t have to involve closing your eyes. A type of meditation called open awareness is described by Harvard Health as selecting a task, like eating or working outside, and paying attention to your body while breathing and engaging your senses. Focus only on the task at hand. Encourage outside thoughts to pass by, like clouds moving through the sky. 

Take time to pause with these activities: 

•  Turn off the radio while driving. 

• Cook without the TV in the background. 

• Meditate while on a walk. 

• Keep your lunch break free from social media. 

• Connect spiritually. Many religious traditions encourage stillness.

• Try a mindfulness app to enable quiet time and reflection.