– I think it’s strange when it’s completely quiet. Emma Ramsfjell Vaage can’t remember the last time she took a break and was just … … completely quiet. – I always have some kind of background sound when I do things. Emma together with her student friend Benedicte Wuli Lervik. Photo: Simon Elias Bogen / news – Silence is a superpower On the short walk from the parking lot to the lecture hall at the University of Stavanger (UiS) where she studies, she listens to music. – When everything is quiet, the mind wanders a bit, says Emma. Olga Lehmann is a psychologist, researcher and associate professor at UiS. She has written a doctorate on silence in everyday life. – People who practice silence in a conscious way become, among other things, more creative, less impulsive and more grateful, she says. Silence expert Olga Lehmann. She says it’s good for your health to be quiet. But it must be done in the right way. Photo: Simon Elias Bogen / news Furthermore, she says that being quiet can also help in making difficult choices. – Sitting in silence can help us reflect on compassion, patience and honesty. Such values can help us make difficult choices, explains Lehmann. In her study, she has found that silence is actually a kind of “superpower” that has many good effects. – Silence makes you a better listener and you become more attentive, she says. Can be too much silence But Lehmann is clear that silence does not look the same for everyone and that you have to find a balance. – Unfortunately, there are some who experience too much silence. Then you quickly become lonely. As a psychologist, she challenges patients to find out what silence can be for them. Do you spend time just being quiet with your own thoughts? Yes. Maybe a little too much even😅 Yes! Do it as often as I can😁 Not often, but sometimes I do it😊 No. Rarely spends time in silence🤔 Never😬 Show result For some it may be going for a walk in the forest with no sound in the ear, but for others it may be meditating or sitting in the armchair and listening to calm music. Lehmann says you yourself have to find a rhythm and routine for silence in everyday life. Not unusual In his research, Lehmann has found that both young people and adults actively avoid silence, like Emma. She believes we live in a culture where you have to be as fast as possible. We want to experience everything and perform well. – This makes us stressed. Our society places more value on doing as much as possible, rather than just being. Gets support Lehmann gets support from researcher Anders Meland at the Norwegian Sports Academy. – We were probably designed for a reality where we should be quieter, he says. Meland has written a book about the importance of silence among top athletes to increase performance. Researcher at the Norwegian Sports Academy, Anders Meland. His book “Stillhetens Råskap” is based on several years of doctoral work with military fighter and helicopter pilots, as well as elite league football players. The use of silence in the form of meditation was tested there. Photo: Norges bank – It is also important that you are calm inside. It may well be noise, but you should be able to slow down and observe yourself, he believes. Meland believes that silence gives you access to your inner self and your thoughts and feelings. – If you are constantly disturbed by things outside, then this access disappears. – Gets a better perception of reality Student Marcel Cortes has realized the importance of disconnecting from time to time. – A few weeks ago, I took a trip to Kilimanjaro in Africa, where I had a week without internet or mobile phone, he says. Marcel Cortes is a student at UiS and thinks it’s just nice to spend some time in silence. Photo: Simon Elias Bogen / news Cortes says it is comfortable, and he notices that he is less stressed. – I would recommend it. You get a better perception of reality, he says. Friends Mikkjel Andreas Aksnes and Ole Kristian Johansen say they would like to spend more time being quiet, because they see how important it is to them. – Especially in the evening, it can be nice to feel the silence and have your own thoughts, says Aksnes. Johansen continues: – It’s a great way to relax and get away from disturbances in everyday life, he says. Marcel Cortes together with his fellow students Mikkjel Andreas Aksnes and Ole Kristian Johansen (left) Photo: Simon Elias Bogen / news But student Emma doesn’t quite see the problem with not setting aside time for silence. – I am perfectly fine and enjoy having background sound on almost everything I do. She thinks it’s good that people can be in their own world and listen to what they want. Want to spend more time in silence? Researcher Lehmann makes a recommendation for those of you who want to be more quiet: – Challenge yourself with small moments of silence in everyday life. Also talk to others and understand how they experience silence, for better or for worse. We want to hear from you! How do you spend time being quiet? Answer in the comment field below: Hello! Welcome to dialogue at news. Since you are logged in to other news services, you do not have to log in again here, but we need your consent to our terms of use for online dialogue
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That’s why you should spend time being quiet every day – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
