Not long ago, a close friend told me something that really made me stop and think. She said that after work, one day a week, she asks her family not to talk to her for a while — not out of anger or disconnection, but because she needs silence to recover from her day. At first, I laughed and thought how impossible that might sound in a busy household, but the more I thought about it, the more I understood exactly what she meant. 

We live in a world that never seems to stop talking. The constant hum of notifications, meetings, background music, and conversation fills almost every moment of our day. Even when things are “quiet,” our minds are often still racing — planning, worrying, replaying. It is as though silence has become something we need to schedule, and yet, it is one of the simplest and most powerful ways to restore ourselves. 

The science around silence is fascinating. Researchers have found that just a few minutes of complete quiet can lower blood pressure, slow the heart rate, and reduce stress hormones more effectively than even relaxing music. Silence gives our brain a chance to rest and reset. Neuroscientists call this the “default mode network” — the part of the brain that switches on when we stop focusing on the outside world. It is active when we daydream, reflect, or let our minds wander. In silence, this network gets to work quietly in the background, helping us process emotions, connect memories, and spark creativity.  

In fact, one study even showed that periods of silence can encourage the growth of new brain cells in the area linked to memory and learning. Isn’t that incredible? Silence doesn’t just calm us — it literally helps repair and strengthen the brain. 

I’ve started to notice how much I crave moments of quiet too. For me, it might be turning off the radio in the car on the drive home, sitting with a cup of tea in the garden without my phone, or simply closing my eyes and breathing deeply before the day begins. It is not always easy to find silence, but when I do, something shifts. My thoughts slow down, my shoulders drop, and that constant internal chatter softens. In the stillness, I can hear myself think again — and sometimes, that is exactly what I need most. 

Silence also makes space for self-awareness. When the noise quiets, I notice how I’m really feeling — not how I think I should feel, but how I actually am. It’s not always comfortable, but it’s honest. And in that honesty, there’s healing. We spend so much of our lives responding to others — colleagues, family, friends — that we forget to respond to ourselves. Silence gives us permission to listen inwardly, to reconnect with what matters most.  

My friend’s ritual — her weekly evening of silence — is now something I deeply admire. It is not about shutting the world out; it is about giving herself the space to breathe, to recharge, and to simply be. I think we could all learn from that. 

How do we find our version of a “day of silence.” It doesn’t have to be a full day. It might be ten quiet minutes in the morning or a peaceful walk without headphones. Whatever it looks like, treat it as sacred. Because silence isn’t an absence — it’s a return. 

In the stillness, we don’t lose ourselves. We find ourselves again.