How Giving Up Podcasts Changed My Relationship With Silence
by Arden Martin
When you think “Digital Detox,” the most addicting habits come to mind: social media, Netflix, checking email 100 times a day, and so on. But when I decided to do my own detox, I knew exactly which habit I needed to let go of: podcasts.
Although podcasts seem pretty innocuous, and I’ve gained so much knowledge and insight from them over the years, my relationship with podcasts had become imbalanced to the point that I no longer had a healthy, natural relationship with silence. As a meditation teacher, this was particularly painful for me to realize, but it was true: I had developed a habit of using podcasts to fill silence, avoid uncomfortable feelings, and maintain a level of constant input that resulted in a general sense of understimulation, of needing to grasp for something whenever I had a quiet moment in my day.
When I realized I no longer wanted to do simple tasks like empty the dishwasher, clean my house, or get ready for bed without a comforting voice in the background, I knew I needed a reset. No matter how great the content was, it had led me to a place of feeling uncomfortable with silence and mental space, along with a sense of needing to constantly absorb knowledge and information. So, I implemented my own Digital Detox — and the only change I made was eliminating podcasts, my most insidious daily habit.
Immediately, I noticed a profound shift in my relationship with silence. When it was no longer an option to tap that purple icon and cue up some fun content, I found myself actually enjoying the spareness of going about my life without external accompaniment: putting a dish away in the same stack it always goes, pulling weed after weed in the garden, and washing my face in a dark bathroom at the end of a long day — all in silence. When I used podcasts to create a stimulating backdrop for these tasks, the idea of doing them in silence felt boring and monotonous, but as soon as I stopped, it simply felt… natural. I noticed mental spaciousness, like my mind had slowed down and stopped buzzing so loudly. It also felt deeply liberating to not be chained to a phone (or headphones) as I went about my day.
Will I return to podcasts one day? I’m sure — but I’m amazed by how one simple, seemingly innocuous change has supported my mental wellbeing.
So, if you’re contemplating your own Digital Detox, remember that balance looks different for everyone — and even habits that don’t seem problematic on the surface can powerfully affect your mental state.
The Spring’s Digital Detox starts Monday, July 1! We’ll help you take inventory of your digital habits and figure out what you want to take a break from (or eliminate completely), so the detox is meaningful and effective for your unique life. We’ll also provide weekly check-ins to keep you feeling inspired and supported.
Join us HERE.