Silence is good for your health, science says

It’s hard to escape noise these days. If you live an urban lifestyle, the sounds of traffic on your street, nearby trains passing through and dogs barking is more than likely to fill your day – and perhaps your night, too.

And then there are the sounds inside your house. Do you have the television on whenever you’re home? Or perhaps the radio? Are the kids constantly playing video games, or on their laptops, tablets and phones?

There’s nothing inherently wrong with any of these activities or the noise they make, but adding them together serves as a reminder that many of us get very little silence in our lives.

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Does that matter? Perhaps not, but there’s a growing body of evidence that suggests that a little bit of silence in our lives can provide significant health benefits.

A study, conducted by researchers at the Catholic University of Applied Sciences (CUAS) in Germany, found that silence both indoors and outdoors is effective in significantly fostering relaxation. It also helps to reduce boredom.

How do we go about introducing more silence into our lives? One of the more drastic methods is to book an appointment in a flotation tank.

New Scientist’s Kayt Sukel did just that after being told by a friend that a one-hour float in a sensory deprivation tank had given her a new lease of life.

Ms Sukel, like many others (including me), had images of a small, enclosed tank that would make her feel claustrophobic. In fact, when she invited her husband to join her in the experience, he responded with a question I might have asked: “Isn’t that a form of torture?”

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Not any more, apparently. Flotation sessions have evolved from the body-hugging devices introduced in the 1950s. They’re now known as ‘pods’ and are larger than the coffin-like earlier versions.

Ms Sukel did feel more relaxed after her session, but for many (if not most) people, such sessions are out of reach, either financially or practically. For those, are there easier and cheaper ways to access a bit of therapy through silence, and will it be as effective?

Pleasingly, the answer is yes, according to Professor Eric Pfeifer and his colleagues at CUAS. Their study’s participants reported more relaxation and less boredom when they sat quietly in an outdoor garden compared with a completely silent room.

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So, even a quiet period of time in the garden or a walk in the woods can help enhance relaxation and lead us to a more meditative state.

Even if we don’t reach that meditative state – which has proven health benefits – the evidence indicates there are health benefits to be achieved.

Prof. Pfeifer does concede that there are some people who won’t benefit from silence, particularly those who are in a heightened state of stress.

“People in these states may not be able to relax or calm down in a silent condition,” he says, adding that professional guidance and allowing people to approach silence slowly may allow those people to gradually enjoy the benefits.

If a flotation therapy session sounds like something you’d like to try, you could well reap the benefits of attaining a more relaxed state. If not, consider some time out in a quiet garden or a walk in a secluded park.

The chances are you’ll be a healthier, more relaxed person as a result.

Have you tried flotation therapy? What other relaxation techniques have you adopted? Why not share your experience and thoughts in the comments section below?

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