We live in a noisy world. With the internet and our cell phones always on, many of us are constantly plugged into voices and events from near and far. We are aware of things that, in the past, we would never have known about, or at least wouldn’t have known about with lightning speed.

Scientists have measured the amount of data that enter the brain and found that an average person living today processes as much as 74 GB in information a day (that is as much as watching 16 movies), through TV, computers, cell phones, tablets, billboards, and many other gadgets. Every year it is about 5% more than the previous year [1]. Only 500 years ago, 74 GB of information would be what a highly educated person consumed in a lifetime, through books and stories. (Heim & Keil 2017)

It’s no wonder we often feel distracted and have a hard time focusing. In addition to the sheer amount of information we are taking in, many of us feel deeply disturbed by recent events, both in the United States and worldwide. We may think that we need to keep updated with developments as they unfold, be on our guard, and always wait for the next piece of bad news.

But remaining constantly vigilant takes a toll mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

During the pandemic years, I took many long silent walks. Well, not entirely silent since I live in New York City. There were always car horns, airplanes overhead, and traffic sounds. However, I was able to find respite in nearby parks where I could immerse myself in the world of trees and plants and gaze at the Hudson River, pretending that the traffic noises were ocean waves.

A couple of weeks ago, I went to a larger park, Inwood Hill park, that I had not been to before. Here, there was no traffic noise, only the sound of my feet as they brushed through the piles of leaves on the ground. The prehistoric roots of Inwood Hill Park in upper Manhattan can be seen in caves, valleys, and ridges created by glaciers thousands of years ago. Even though things have changed since Native Americans lived here, much of the park has been left unspoiled.

After walking silently for a couple of hours, I felt calm and at peace. That night, I slept better than I had in a long time. A lot has been written recently about “Forest Bathing.” What is forest bathing? Nothing other than returning to spending time immersed in nature, reconnecting with the environment human beings are meant to be living in.

It’s necessary to take a break from information overload. Being in silence and nature turns our attention inward and inspires creativity. Put away the phone, put on some walking shoes, and find respite in the natural world.