In today’s digital society, you’re constantly bombarded with stimuli from ads, social media, and all kinds of notifications. So how do you keep the noise out?
Stimuli are bits of information you receive through your senses (sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste). Where do all these stimuli come from?
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Your smartphone: Everyone gets notifications all day long—emails, messages, tweets, and news updates.
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TV and radio: Most people always have something playing in the background—a TV show they’re not watching or background music on the radio. Since there are frequent commercials, your brain processes these too—even if you’re not consciously listening.
How can you reduce these stimuli and enjoy daily life again?
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Set your phone so it only notifies you for calls. You can check everything else when you choose to. Make your phone work for you, not the other way around.
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Make a deal with yourself about how often you check messages—just two or three times a day. Most people won’t mind if you don’t respond immediately.
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Delete apps or accounts that don’t genuinely add value to your life.
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Stop leaving the TV or radio on by default, or switch to calm channels with no ads.
And now that your mind is quieter, enjoy the moment. Just sit on the couch with a cup of tea and do absolutely nothing. Just because others thrive in busy environments doesn’t mean the same works for you. Doing nothing at all is often harder than it seems—but it’s also incredibly rewarding.