Issue #224: The Deafening Sound of Silence
Good morning. It’s Thursday, August 10th.
Today’s Quick Win
From the Lab: The Silence is Deafening
Speed Read: Disney Helping Kids Meditate
Thursday Night In: Thai Beef Salad
“Without great solitude, no serious work is possible.”
The number of places left in the U.S. (excluding Alaska) where it’s possible to go and not hear any human-caused noise. (The Inertia)
From the Lab
So we don’t want too much noise (Issue #223).
What about silence??
Most of us aren’t comfortable with our own thoughts and sounds - hence, the challenges of sticking with meditation.
But turns out that a little silence goes a long way.
First - silence lowers our blood pressure, which by all accounts is the number one biomarker we want to keep low for future heart disease.
We get a sense of calm in silence - even compared to music (yes, even Mozart). Research studies show that our concentration improves and anxiety goes down during silence.
This is compared to a constant stream of music (again, even Mozart) or TV.*
Second - silence forces us to look inward, compared to our constant focus on what’s happening around us.
“To make the right choices in life, you have to get in touch with your soul. To do this, you need to experience solitude, which most people are afraid of, because in the silence you hear the truth and know the solutions.”
It’s true - most of us are scared of silence. Even though silent retreats are increasingly popular, we fear the thought of no phones, no tv, no talking.
When I first heard about Yuval Noah Harari doing 2-month retreats, I thought that was insane. To be honest, I still can’t fathom that - and it doesn’t work for most of us with jobs, families, responsibilities.
But the premise is right to do this for shorter periods of time (I also used to feel this way about yoga, meditation, breathwork, 16:8 fasting, cold plunges, the list goes on and on).
What is Silence?
There’s no such thing. Even in outer space you’d hear “white noise.”
But when it’s truly quiet, you start to hear yourself - your heart beat, your joints, the air in/out of your lungs, even the blood pumping throughout your body.
This timeout is actually really powerful.
Orfield Labs in MN has the quietest room in the world. Apparently - it can be game-changing when you spend a few min in there.
“When people first come into the lab they feel uncomfortable. But then they start to calm down. Then they come out saying things like ‘my brain hasn’t felt this good in years.’” Steven Orfield (The Comfort Crisis)
So if not this room - where can we find those silent places (see Stat of the Day)?
Three (3) of those places are:
Hoh Rainforest, Olympic National Park, WA
Garden Hempton won’t share the other nine - he wants to keep ‘em quiet.
How to Find It
Ok - so without going to a sound-proof box, a silent retreat, or one of the quietest places in the world, here are a few practical tips:
Make time without music/podcasts in the car
Take 10-15 min of quiet during the day
Do an early morning or late evening walk without the ear buds
*60% of people report using TV as a noise companion more than entertainment - leaving it on all the time, even while not watching it. Don’t do this!
Thrive25 Partner Spotlight
Ready to get outside? NatureDose is the free app to help you set weekly nature goals and track your progress. Why do you want to get outside? Well, with the right active ingredients look at what’s possible for your health!
On par with diet, exercise, or adequate sleep, making nature exposure an essential part of your lifestyle is one of the best choices you can make for your health. Check out NatureDose.
Speed Read
Health & Longevity in the News
Get Outside and Play: Grandparents who play with their grandkids are more active and healthier than those that don’t. This also gets kids off technology, a major culprit in rising depression statistics among teenagers. It’s really good for every age - so go play! (Washington Post)
Combating Dementia: A link between high blood pressure and vascular dementia? It was found in mice. Consistent high blood pressure disrupts artery signals within the brain, causing the arteries to be permanently constricted and killing brain cells. (Levels Health)
Helping Kids Meditate: Calm has partnered with Disney to bring the power of mindfulness to kids and make mental health a priority for families. Great timing as kids get the anxiety of going back to school. (Calm)
Thursday Night In | Thai Beef Salad
This is a versatile dish that can be served as a meal or a side dish at larger gatherings. It’s low carb and nutrient-dense with a lot of taste - a little bit of sweet and spicy.
Pro Tip: go with grass-fed steak and check out this cooking chart to help with preferred doneness.
Thanks for joining us today!
Check out the latest workout videos on our YouTube channel
Got feedback, recommendations or stories to share? Tell us what’s on your mind here
Want this direct to your inbox? Sign up here
Why Thrive25
We’re 40-something dads that felt our bodies and minds start to slow down and we’re not ready for that. We found too much information on every subject. So we started Thrive25 to transform what we’ve learned into something useful for the rest of us to spend just 3-5 min a day to optimize our health & longevity.
This newsletter is for you and we truly value your feedback. Never hesitate to reach out to us at team@thrive25.com.
To health!
Sign up for free:
The information in this newsletter is for informational purposes only and may not be appropriate or applicable based on your individual circumstances. Thrive25 Labs LLC does not provide medical, professional, or licensed advice. Please connect with your healthcare professional for medical advice specific to your health needs.