Intermittent silence is as straightforward as it sounds – taking a break to intentionally surround yourself in silence for short periods of time. It is the act of shifting our attention from the chatter in our brain (like our daily obligations or problems) to bring ourselves to a state of inner peace and tranquillity. This is done by disconnecting ourselves from everything around us and reconnecting with our inner selves. And it can be achieved through meditation, hypnotherapy, or even simply closing your eyes for 10-15 minutes and actively listening to the sounds of nature.

Though there haven’t been studies done specifically on intermittent silence, there are existing studies done to demonstrate the impact and benefits of silence in general. In 2015, Brain Structure & Function published a study where they concluded that silence can help stimulate the growth of new neurons in the part of the brain that handles memory and learning. Then back in 2005, Heart found that when people listened to two minutes of silence in between songs, it helped decrease their blood pressure and an increase in relaxation.

In short, our brain needs a break once in a while and when we respond to those needs it can help us work better, relax better, and cope with stressful situations or emotions better.

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Intermittent silence is the process of quieting our minds. This doesn’t mean that there will be no thoughts when you’re engaging in intermittent silence, but you’re watching your thoughts pass by, similar to watching a train departing a station.

As Maria explains, “Engaging in intermittent silence can be challenging for some individuals, especially those who are so stressed and focused on work that they have reached a level of obsessiveness. This is understandable as the moment there is quiet and silence, the mind starts to rehearse disruptive thoughts such as a person’s failures and all the things that need to be done. In such cases, they should let these thoughts pass by acknowledging them but not engaging in them whilst having the conviction that these thoughts will get lesser. They have to make a conscious effort to shift their attention to a different place such as the sounds of a river flowing or wind blowing. As they do that, they will start to calm down.”

People who are very anxious might feel inclined to give up because the moment they are in silence, their mind floods with stressors. However, Maria strongly recommends that they persevere and practice intermittent silence to quieten their minds and train their brains to slow down and achieve inner peace, calmness, and happiness. Just like anything, it all comes with practice.

Maria explains, “When we are stressed or upset, our brain experiences mid to high-range beta waves, and we go into survival mode. Intermittent silence helps to slow down our beta waves to a lower range (alpha and theta waves) which helps us to connect with our subconscious minds. Accessing our subconscious minds can help us to change beliefs that are hurtful to us, achieve calmness, make sense of our world and find solutions to problems.”

There are also many reflective benefits that come with intermittent silence. According to Maria, it can help you review the personal and professional relationships in your lives and release the irritation, disappointment, and hurt that they might feel in these relationships. Just like how intermittent fasting can make you more mindful of what you eat and what you put in your body, intermittent silence can make you more mindful of your thoughts and emotions.

According to Maria, an individual who practices intermittent silence twice every day (if possible) once early in the morning after waking up and once before going to bed at night, can achieve a more permanent state of inner calmness and stability, especially when faced with stressful situations.

As people practice intermittent silence, they are able to change how they react to misfortunes and hurtful encounters. This practice can help them embraces change, problems, and obstacles as they recognise that these experiences help us grow. 

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