The Cost of Constant Noise

I can be pretty sensitive to noise.

Construction, mowers, leaf blowers, and crowded places will throw my brain into an agitated state.

It’s not just the ‘loud’ noises. Overlapping conversations and background music can be too much and wear me out. Even when I am enjoying myself, I’ll reach a point where I need to sit in silence and let my mind resettle.

The thing is, noise doesn’t always stop when the sound does. The pace of it lingers. That restless, overstimulated feeling prevents us from noticing how noise shapes our thoughts, dulls our focus, and makes it harder to connect with ourselves and others.

We’ve normalized constant stimulation. We fill every gap: a podcast on the walk, a video while we eat, or a playlist while we work. Even in silence, our minds keep talking. Quiet has become the exception, almost like we’re afraid of what silence might reveal.

Noise itself is not bad. In fact, sound can have a profoundly positive impact on our well-being, creativity, and social connections. But, like many things, it requires balance and intention.

The quiet moments don’t just clear our minds. They help us return to ourselves, to each other, and to what actually matters.