Close your eyes for a moment, and take stock of how much time per day you spend in silence. No radio, no TV, no music, no podcast, no conversations, no ambulance sirens. There’s a good chance it’s not very much time, and there’s a good chance all the background noise in your life in getting in your way of listening closely to yourself, and to those around you. When I did this exercise recently, and realized I was on listening overload.
I’d walk home from work listening to a podcast or an audio book, then get home and immediately turn on NPR. I was constantly taking in and processing information. When I wasn’t tuned into sound, I was online, glued to the news cycle, or being asked to take a quiz to discover what kind of ice cream I most resemble, or what city I actually belong in. Life felt really loud.
Over the last couple of years I’ve developed some tricks for turning down the volume in my head so I could let my own thoughts surface. Perhaps these will inspire you to develop some tricks of your own.
- I intentionally “forget” my headphones at home. Once in a while, I force myself to walk to work or run an errand while not listening to anything. I take in my surroundings, I notice my neighbors, the new buildings going up on my block, I soak in colors and smells and occasionally hear funny things people say on the streets. Often, I find myself thinking about things I read or heard. I’ve come to appreciate this time of processing rather than taking in more information.
- I moved to a quieter neighborhood. Clearly, this is more than a “trick,” it’s a major life change, and noise was just one of the reasons my husband and I decided to leave a busy Manhattan street for a quieter Brooklyn one. Yet I very quickly realized that I prefer waking up to the sound of birds than horns and sirens. When I go outside in my new neighborhood, noise is not the first thing I notice any more. Nowadays, when I go into Manhattan, I want to turn down the collective volume. I find that I’m calmer a lot of the time, breathing a little more deeply, less exasperated with FOMO (“fear of missing out” for the uninitiated), and I think that living in a quieter neighborhood has contributed to that. (If you live surrounded by noise and want to know how much is too much, then Dangerous Decibels might be a good resource for you.)
- I try to meditate. It’s really hard. The noise in my own head–the thoughts–are often really loud and unrelenting. I find that trying to relax my eyes helps to calm the stream of thoughts, and about 10% of the time I do find a meditative bliss. I keep a notepad in my meditation area so I can jot down the urgent thoughts. I’ve learned that asking myself to be silent for just about 10 minutes is often more effective than demanding it for a full 45-minute session. Baby steps. And I find that the more I meditate, the more present I am to myself and to others throughout the day. (Here is a beginner’s guide from the experts).
- I call close friends when I’m out walking, so I can’t multitask and I give them my full listening attention. It’s terrible but true: When I make a phone call from home, I typically multitask, no matter how important the person is to me. I’ll check Facebook, pay bills, and even answer emails while allegedly having a conversation with a dear friend. Until I can learn to stop multitasking, my trick is to get out of the house.
- I schedule listening time with the one person who matters the most to me, my husband. Most Sundays after lunch we make ourselves an espresso and sit at our kitchen table for our “Sunday Talk.” We each take a turn saying everything we didn’t have a chance to say during the week–things the other person might have been too busy to listen to, things we didn’t even know were percolating in our heads, subjects that need more time and attention than our busy weekday schedules permit. All technology gets ignored, and our full attention is on what the other person is saying. A close friend told me that her boss calls her into the office every Monday morning and says, “How did I successfully support you last week, and how could I have supported you better?” Wow. Talk about listening. (If listening doesn’t come naturally to you, or you want to further improve your listening skills, here is a resource from Psychology Today).
As the end of the year approaches, I would urge all of you to take stock of what kind of noise is filling your bandwidth. Consider making some New Year’s Resolutions to listen more carefully, to listen differently, to direct your attention to those noises that are most important to you.
Pingback: Blue Coaster33()
Pingback: best online casinos()
Pingback: uk online casinos()
Pingback: get satellite tv()
Pingback: TV for Businesses()
Pingback: nu()
Pingback: 3gp mobile porn()
Pingback: parking()
Pingback: parking()
Pingback: alkaline water machine()
Pingback: Instagram followers kopen()
Pingback: water ionizer loans()
Pingback: pay day loans()
Pingback: electricians zion il()
Pingback: electrician 8/6()
Pingback: foley belsaw locksmithing course()
Pingback: bonuses()
Pingback: plumbing plumbers baton rouge()
Pingback: plumber apprentice wages()
Pingback: bottled alkaline water()
Pingback: house blue()
Pingback: electrician trade schools in arizona()
Pingback: b&q electrician tools()
Pingback: HD Coloring Pages()
Pingback: water ionizer()
Pingback: ionizer payment plan()
Pingback: payment plan()
Pingback: minecraft maps()
Pingback: pay per day loans plan()
Pingback: here()
Pingback: loan payment plan()
Pingback: alkaline water()
Pingback: website()
Pingback: alkaline water()
Pingback: water ionizer()
Pingback: I was reading this()
Pingback: do you agree()
Pingback: comparateur hotel de luxe pas cher()
Pingback: anami sikin()
Pingback: address()
Pingback: castle clash hack, games cheats, viagra pills, porn, fifa 16 hack, free xxx videos, pirate kings hack()
Pingback: anabolic steroids bodybuilding()
Pingback: buy backlinks()
Pingback: economics tuition()
Pingback: economics tuition()
Pingback: Stephani Mitchel()
Pingback: Greg Thmomson()
Pingback: gmail.com login()
Pingback: gmail login page()
Pingback: URL()
Pingback: ruszta betonowe cena()
Pingback: viagra com()
Pingback: Buy viagra without prescription()
Pingback: cialis walmart()
Pingback: cialis pill()
Pingback: Free viagra samples()
Pingback: cialis 20g()
Pingback: Buy viagra in canada()
Pingback: generic ventolin()
Pingback: real viagra for sale online()
Pingback: buy ciprofloxacin()
Pingback: viagra samples()
Pingback: cialis over the counter at walmart()
Pingback: naltrexone cost()
Pingback: how much is cialis()
Pingback: viagra 100mg()
Pingback: cheap viagra()
Pingback: viagra generic()
Pingback: men's ed pills()
Pingback: walmart pharmacy()
Pingback: cialis 5 mg()
Pingback: buy hydroxychloroquine online()
Pingback: viagra pill()
Pingback: best online casino real money()
Pingback: best casino online()
Pingback: casino games online()
Pingback: online casino games for real money()
Pingback: viagra without a doctor prescription()
Pingback: buy cheap viagra()
Pingback: order viagra()
Pingback: buy viagra()
Pingback: canadian pharmacy cialis()
Pingback: cialis online pharmacy()
Pingback: online slots real money()
Pingback: online casinos usa()
Pingback: buy viagra online cheap()
Pingback: sildenafil 100 mg()
Pingback: mymvrc.org()
Pingback: viagra pills()
Pingback: buy cheap viagra()
Pingback: buy viagra()
Pingback: generic viagra pills()
Pingback: Viagra 130mg generic()
Pingback: Viagra 150 mg without prescription()
Pingback: Cialis 60 mg tablet()
Pingback: Cialis 10 mg united states()
Pingback: buy generic cialis()
Pingback: buy viagra generic()
Pingback: canadian pharmacy vikky()
Pingback: how to purchase lasix 40mg()
Pingback: where to buy lexapro 5 mg()
Pingback: where can i buy finasteride 5mg()
Pingback: ou trouver viagra sans ordonnance()
Pingback: aldactone 100 mg without a doctor prescription()
Pingback: http://cialistodo.com()
Pingback: tadalafil()
Pingback: buy viagra online()
Pingback: cheap cialis()
Pingback: catapres 100mcg without a prescription()
Pingback: cost of ceclor()
Pingback: viagra for sale()
Pingback: how to buy ceftin 250mg()
Pingback: celebrex 100mg generic()
Pingback: celexa 20 mg uk()
Pingback: cephalexin over the counter()
Pingback: cipro 750 mg pharmacy()
Pingback: claritin cost()
Pingback: play for real online casino games()
Pingback: golden nugget online casino()
Pingback: online slots for real money()
Pingback: vegas casino online()
Pingback: casino games online()
Pingback: gambling games()
Pingback: casino games online()
Pingback: casino online real money()
Pingback: online casino games real money()
Pingback: casino online real money()
Pingback: cure car insurance()
Pingback: car insurance quotes comparison online()
Pingback: plymouth rock car insurance quotes()
Pingback: car insurance quotes companies in texas()
Pingback: ameriprise car insurance()
Pingback: allstate insurance car()
Pingback: e insurance auto()
Pingback: geico car insurance quotes official site()
Pingback: best car insurance rates()
Pingback: car insurance quotes()
Pingback: usa personal loans()
Pingback: payday loans macon ga()
Pingback: Buy viagra in us()
Pingback: cheap medication online()
Pingback: payday payday loans()
Pingback: installment loans dothan al()
Pingback: online bad credit loans no credit check()
Pingback: payday loans no credit check()
Pingback: generic amoxicillin cost()
Pingback: fast personal loans online()
Pingback: cbd oil dosage for breast cancer()
Pingback: cbd oil for cancer pain()
Pingback: cbd oil full definition()
Pingback: cbd oil for dogs()
Pingback: cbd oil benefits and side effects()
Pingback: payday loans no credit check instant approval()
Pingback: cbd oil for anxiety()
Pingback: cbd cannabis seeds for sale()
Pingback: cbd oil for sale()
Pingback: cbd oil for sale in georgia()
Pingback: custom essay writers()
Pingback: buy essays cheap()
Pingback: admission essay writing services()
Pingback: kindergarten homework packet()
Pingback: writing essay service()
Pingback: essay writing service canada()
Pingback: essay online()
Pingback: write an argument essay()
Pingback: paper back writer()
Pingback: essay writer reviews()
Pingback: cleocin 150 mg without a doctor prescription()
Pingback: 50mg viagra()
Pingback: clomid usa()
Pingback: clonidine without a doctor prescription()
Pingback: how to buy clozaril 25mg()
Pingback: Buy viagra on internet()
Pingback: cheapest colchicine 0,5mg()
Pingback: cheap symbicort inhaler()
Pingback: combivent australia()
Pingback: order coreg 25 mg()
Pingback: how to purchase compazine 5mg()
Pingback: coumadin 5 mg united states()
Pingback: order cozaar()
Pingback: Buy viagra cheap()
Pingback: how to buy crestor 10 mg()
Pingback: cymbalta medication()
Pingback: dapsone 1000caps online pharmacy()
Pingback: ddavp medication()
Pingback: cheapest depakote 500mg()
Pingback: viagra coupons()
Pingback: diamox online()
Pingback: differin without prescription()
Pingback: diltiazem 60 mg generic()
Pingback: viagra sale()
Pingback: doxycycline 100 mg price()
Pingback: dramamine 50mg cheap()
Pingback: elavil 25 mg generic()
Pingback: erythromycin 250mg nz()
Pingback: spiriva for sale()
Pingback: tenormin 25 mg cost()
Pingback: generic viagra online for sale()
Pingback: thorazine without prescription()
Pingback: toprol 50 mg coupon()
Pingback: where to buy tricor 160mg()
Pingback: where to buy valtrex()
Pingback: vantin usa()
Pingback: buy viagra()
Pingback: cost of verapamil 40mg()
Pingback: buy voltaren 50 mg()
Pingback: wellbutrin coupon()
Pingback: zanaflex medication()
Pingback: how to purchase zestril()
Pingback: click to find out more()
Pingback: this()
Pingback: zocor generic()
Pingback: zithromax purchase online()
Pingback: zovirax 800 mg for sale()
Pingback: zyloprim no prescription()
Pingback: zyprexa 10mg usa()
Pingback: buy zyvox()
Pingback: sildenafil canada()
Pingback: tadalafil 10 mg united states()
Pingback: how to purchase furosemide 40mg()
Pingback: amoxicillin 750 mg price()
Pingback: escitalopram coupon()
Pingback: aripiprazole without a prescription()
Pingback: how to buy pioglitazone()
Pingback: spironolactone united states()
Pingback: ed pills without doctor prescription()
Pingback: fexofenadine 120mg online pharmacy()
Pingback: glimepiride 1 mg no prescription()
Pingback: how to purchase meclizine 25mg()
Pingback: leflunomide 10 mg australia()
Pingback: atomoxetine 25mg price()
Pingback: donepezil generic()
Pingback: anastrozole 1mg australiawhere to buy anastrozole()
Pingback: viagra for sale()
Pingback: irbesartan 300 mg nz()
Pingback: dutasteride 0,5mg uk()
Pingback: olmesartan 10mg otc()
Pingback: how to buy buspirone 10 mg()
Pingback: clonidinemg online()
Pingback: cefuroxime australia()
Pingback: celecoxib 100 mg united states()
Pingback: cheapest citalopram 10 mg()
Pingback: cephalexin 500mg coupon()
Pingback: cheap ciprofloxacin 1000 mg()
Pingback: cialis 20 mg best price()
Pingback: cheap loratadine 10 mg()
Pingback: generic cialis tadalafil()
Pingback: clindamycin 150 mg purchase()
Pingback: clozapine no prescription()
Pingback: cost of prochlorperazine 5mg()
Pingback: viagra without doctor script()
Pingback: buy carvedilol()
Pingback: where can i buy warfarin 2 mg()
Pingback: rosuvastatin cost()
Pingback: divalproex 250 mg no prescription()
Pingback: trazodone 25 mg canada()
Pingback: cheapest tolterodine 1mg()
Pingback: sildenafil 50 mg online india()
Pingback: buy acetazolamide 250 mg()
Pingback: fluconazole 100mg price()
Pingback: phenytoin nz()
Pingback: where can i buy oxybutynin 2.5mg()
Pingback: doxycycline prices()
Pingback: bisacodyl coupon()
Pingback: venlafaxine 37.5mg without a prescription()
Pingback: buy viagra online()
Pingback: amitriptyline cost()
Pingback: permethrin 30g australia()
Pingback: generic tadalafil()
Pingback: erythromycin 250mg cost()
Pingback: how to purchase estradiol 1mg()
Pingback: erection pills viagra online()
Pingback: ed drugs compared()
Pingback: melfcpkz()
Pingback: ed remedies()
Pingback: fluticasone 50 mcg medication()
Pingback: alendronate united kingdom()
Pingback: what is bph cialis()
Pingback: why is cialis so expensive()
Pingback: wat is beter cialis of viagra()
Pingback: viagra without a doctor prescription usa()
Pingback: cheap nitrofurantoin 100mg()
Pingback: wat kost viagra bij de huisarts()
Pingback: how often can ivermectin sheep drench be used on a dog()
Pingback: which works btteer fir sinus infection, omnicef or zithromax()
Pingback: glipizide 5mg pills()
Pingback: buying prescription drugs from canada()
Pingback: erythromycin generic()
Pingback: buy prescriptions from india pharmacy()
Pingback: best online international pharmacies india()
Pingback: best erectile dysfunction pills review()
Pingback: buy viagra online without prescription()
Pingback: propecia generic()
Pingback: finasteride prostate()
Pingback: cheapest ed pills()
Pingback: ed pills cheap()
Pingback: pharmacy online uae()
Pingback: mexican pharmacy weight loss()
Pingback: buy cialis ebay()
Pingback: buy viagra professional()
Pingback: lisinopril online()
Pingback: zestril 5 mg tablets()
Pingback: buy cialis online cheap()
Pingback: buy cialis online europe()
Pingback: buy cialis 36 hour()
Pingback: order original cialis online()
Pingback: buy cialis cheaper online()
Pingback: cheap erectile dysfunction pills()
Pingback: how to order valtrex online()
Pingback: valtrex online pharmacy()
Pingback: mexican online mail order pharmacy()
Pingback: ed pills otc()
Pingback: what type of medicine is prescribed for allergies()
Pingback: viagra over the counter()
Pingback: doxycycline pills()
Pingback: 100mg viagra()
Pingback: best place to buy viagra online()
Pingback: treatment with drugs()
Pingback: best ed treatments()
Pingback: ivermectin 4000 mcg()
Pingback: stromectol 3mg cost()
Pingback: plaquenil 600 mg()
Pingback: dapoxetine used for men()
Pingback: ivermectin cream 1%()
Pingback: stromectol price()
Pingback: ivermectin for humans()
Pingback: doctors for hydroxychloroquine()
Pingback: homepage()
Pingback: non prescription ed pills()
Pingback: cost of viagra()
Pingback: new study on hydroxychloroquine()
Pingback: 100mg viagra()
Pingback: buy cialis without perscription()
Pingback: hydroxychloroquine dosage in covid()
Pingback: cialis without prescriptions canada()
Pingback: hydroxychloroquine stock market()
Pingback: plaquenil 500()
Pingback: cialis canadian pharmacy no prescription()
Pingback: hydroxychloroquine sulfate cost()
Pingback: overnight viagra with dapoxetine()
Pingback: viagra preГ§o()
Pingback: viagra priority mail delivery 3 5 business days()
Pingback: zithromax 1000 mg online()
Pingback: zithromax capsules australia()
Pingback: how much ivermectil is safe()
Pingback: ivermectin 50()
Pingback: ed treatment pills()
Pingback: male dysfunction pills()
Pingback: can stromectol()
Pingback: cialis from china()
Pingback: priligy for humans for sale()
Pingback: find cialis online()
Pingback: prednisone 4mg tab()
Pingback: stromectol dental()
Pingback: legitimate canadian pharmaceuticals online()
Pingback: buy ivermectin canada()
Pingback: ivermectin 6()
Pingback: amoxycillin sandoz 20mg()
Pingback: best drugs for erectile dysfunction()
Pingback: ed for men()
Pingback: stromectol private prescription()
Pingback: stromectol for stomach ulcer()
Pingback: clavivermecta tablets()
Pingback: clomid medication()
Pingback: buy propecia uk boots()
Pingback: ivermectin 3mg tablets()
Pingback: ivermectin 3mg tablets()
Pingback: doxycycline mono()
Pingback: prednisone otc uk()
Pingback: cialis 2.5 mg daily()
Pingback: ivermectin for humans amazon()
Pingback: doxycycline generic()
Pingback: cialis suppliers()
Pingback: generic ivermectin()
Pingback: 20 mg tadalafil()
Pingback: buy cialis south africa()
Pingback: cialis paypall()
Pingback: buy zithramax in the united states()
Pingback: do you need a prescription to buy ventolin in australia()
Pingback: erectile dysfunction medicines()
Pingback: buy zithromax z-pak()
Pingback: viagra vs cialis bodybuilding()
Pingback: male ed pills()
Pingback: can i take lisinopril and tylenol()
Pingback: dapoxetine wo kaufen sie()
Pingback: tamoxifen hair loss()
Pingback: where to get nolvadex()
Pingback: tamoxifen dose()
Pingback: prednisone 5mg coupon()
Pingback: prednisone buy canada()
Pingback: order prednisone 10 mg tablet()
Pingback: ivermectin human()
Pingback: how much does ivermectin cost()
Pingback: п»їivermectin pills()
Pingback: over the counter z pak()
Pingback: prescription drugs canada buy online()
Pingback: buy prescription drugs from canada cheap()
Pingback: azithromycin zithromax over the counter()
Pingback: prednisone 2 mg daily()
Pingback: prednisone 20mg online()
Pingback: prednisone daily use()
Pingback: ivermectin 18mg()
Pingback: ivermectin eye drops()
Pingback: buy cheap amoxicillin()
Pingback: п»їorder stromectol online()
Pingback: lasix price()
Pingback: neurontin pills()
Pingback: viagra side effects()
Pingback: quineprox 30 mg()
Pingback: quineprox 200 mg()
Pingback: prednisone prices()
Pingback: dapoxetine purchase()
Pingback: avana 522()
Pingback: 800mg modafinil()
Pingback: ivermectin purchase()
Pingback: albuterol buying()
Pingback: ventolin uk pharmacy()
Pingback: viagra for women otc()
Pingback: zithromax costs()
Pingback: zithromax 200mg()
Pingback: furosemide uk()
Pingback: gabapentin generic()
Pingback: viagra without prescription()
Pingback: prednisone 20mg pills()
Pingback: can you buy valtrex over the counter in canada()
Pingback: cheap valtrex 1000 mg()
Pingback: buy valtrex online uk()
Pingback: valtrex 1000 mg()
Pingback: cheap generic drugs from canada()
Pingback: generic pills()
Pingback: how to take 20 mg cialis()
Pingback: how long does cialis last()
Pingback: how long does cialis last()
Pingback: plaquenil 100mg()
Pingback: plaquenil 200mg price in india()
Pingback: minocycline 50 mg without doctor()
Pingback: how to buy cialis online?()
Pingback: ivermectin chewy()
Pingback: price of viagra at walmart()
Pingback: online pharmacy cialis()
Pingback: cialis 800 black canada()
Pingback: does ivermectin kill fungus()
Pingback: 365 pills cialis()
Pingback: buy generic clomid online()
Pingback: clomid otc price()
Pingback: over the counter clomid()
Pingback: ed and diabetes()
Pingback: ed natural remedies()
Pingback: ivermectin pour on dosage for goats()
Pingback: prescription drugs()
Pingback: online drugstore()
Pingback: non prescription ed drugs()
Pingback: online prescription for ed meds()
Pingback: cialis 20mg()
Pingback: how does ivermectin work()
Pingback: when will viagra be generic()
Pingback: pictures of penis on cialis()