Shhh! The Wellness Benefits of Silence

It relieves stress and anxiety

Just as loud noises have been proven to raise our blood pressure and release cortisol, the stress hormone, studies shave shown that spending time in silence, even as little as two minutes, can release tension in our body and our mind.

It increases focus

Without distractions such as noise pollution and the constant pinging of our phone, our brains are able to focus at a problem or the situation at hand more easily; making a short period of silence almost essential in a crazy-busy day.

It stimulates brain growth

A 2013 study actually found that upwards of two hours silence (we know, it’s a big ask) can actually encourage the regeneration of brain cells. That’s because it stimulates the region responsible for learning, memory and emotion.

It improves memory

Another benefit is it can help the brain regulate hormones, emotions and memory. A study involving mice found that after a bout of silence, the mice seemed to have boosted moods and memory – this is thought to be because the lack of noise stimulated activity in the memory-building part of our brain.

Boosts creativity

Scientists believe that when our brains are able to regenerate through short periods of silence, we’re able to tap into our creative thinking more easily. This makes it easier for us to see solutions to problems and to avoid the impulses for stimuli. Our brains have to essentially work harder.