Leave your Headphones at Home

By: Sophia Erickson

“I REALLY LIKE YOUR SHOES!!” As the black Jeep drove off, my dejected mood entirely shifted on my walk home from class as I heard echoes of her flattery travel down the road. It took me a second to even realize she was talking to me but I eagerly called back a delayed “THANK YOU” as my heart jumped from a compliment from a stranger. I was feeling deflated after a tough exam and my AirPods had died mid-journey - worst-case scenario - however, after this quick exchange I had more pep in my step. This was the first walk I had taken without headphones in months. The rest of my trip was short, but for the first time in a long time I heard things that I’d forgotten existed: the sound of the wind in the trees that line the Lawn, the hushed chatter between peers about exams, the contagious joy one absorbs as you pass by a game of Spikeball on Mad Bowl, and, lastly, unexpected compliments from passing cars after a rough day... There were so many nuances to the soundscape of my life. 

All these little details accumulated much greater richness than their respective parts. Listening to those fleeting moments made me feel alive, present, and connected. No longer was I the main character in my own world walking home to the soundtrack of my favorite playlist or podcast, but instead, pausing to embrace a small part of a world much bigger than myself. I was just a little human on her way home, sharing space with other humans, feeling the spring sun on my skin. Without the obstruction of sounds being blasted into my ears, I heard the music of my environment and it sure felt good. 

Since that day I have been determined to walk around without my headphones more often. Some tasks, I’ve realized, seem almost impossible without background noise – especially when I exercise – but, for the most part,  I have welcomed living without constant music simulation with open arms. I used to be someone who would wake up and immediately play music when I turned on my car or walked to class. I would even listen to music or a podcast in the shower as if I couldn't stand the thought of being alone in my own head for a mere five minutes. However, I have realized that the seemingly boring noise of the world can be unpredictable and even delightful, like the comforting sound of hearing a stranger's uncontrollable laughter or the subtle bliss of listening to raindrops hitting the outer surface of my umbrella. The sounds of Charlottesville remind me that I live in a young and lively college town, making me privy to scandalous, funny conversations I’d otherwise never hear. The intentional decision to turn down the music allowed me to reconnect to nature's soundtrack, which I’ve evaded for years. 

Studies have shown how nature’s sounds can be beneficial for your social, mental, and physical health. In 2010, researchers found that listening to nature sounds can lead to, “increased well-being, decreased negative affect and decreased physiological stress responses' ' (Alvarsson et alt, 2010). Other studies show that heavy headphone use can impede daily interactions and diminish the feeling of being connected to others; the negative side effects are not limited to the individual with headphones in either, often those around the user also feel alienated and are quickly put off from making conversation with someone entirely absent in their physical reality (Scheff, 2004). In addition, some researchers have theorized that portable audio devices may serve as a transitional object to eliminate any fear, anxiety or discomfort the person may be experiencing (Blum, 2004).  Simply put, our devices and their ability to help us block out the world around us can be used as coping mechanisms when we begin to shift moods, and not always in a constructive way. Think about the last time you began looking at your phone in order to avoid interaction or put on a podcast because you were stressed and desperately needed to distract yourself. The temptations to avoid our own thoughts and world are around us but once we settle into the discomfort, we can find new ways to cope. 

Now, I don't want you to think that I don’t ever commute with music anymore – I still do – but I am trying to make a habit of leaving my headphones at home from time to time. Not only does it remind me that I am an active participant in my surroundings, but it connects me to those around me and restores my relationships with my physical reality and the natural world, reminding me that life is meant to be lived offline. 

So that’s my suggestion- try for one day to just listen to the world around you, with no interruptions. It is such a mild suggestion, an almost laughable one, but if you haven’t tried it in a while give it a go. Nature’s sounds have a quieter, less immediate satisfaction, but if you listen closely you might just hear something you didn't know you needed.

Reference List:

Alvarsson, J. J., Wiens, S., & Nilsson, M. E. (2010). Stress recovery during exposure to nature sound and environmental noise. International journal of environmental research and public health, 7(3), 1036–1046. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph7031036

Blum, H.P. (2004). Separation-individuation theory and attachment theory. Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, 52(2), 535-553.

Scheff, T.J. (2004). Universal Human Needs?: After Maslow. Retrieved from the University of California, Santa Barbara faculty Web site: http://www.soc.ucsb.edu/faculty/scheff/32.html.