The Sit in Silence Challenge
From the moment I wake up to the time I go to sleep, I have access to endless entertainment and information. Movies, short videos, entire series, vlogs, blogs, books, music, podcasts—you name it. And it’s not all mindless. A lot of it helps me learn, tweak my habits, and stay on track. But as helpful (and entertaining) as all this input is, it never gives my brain a break from outside influence.
That’s why today’s challenge is simple: sit in silence for five minutes. No distractions, no screens, no music—just quiet.
It sounds easy, but it’s not. Sitting in silence can feel uncomfortable. Sometimes, a flood of thoughts rushes in. My to-do list, a random memory from years ago, something I forgot to reply to—it all shows up the moment there’s nothing filling the space. That discomfort is why so many of us avoid silence. But sitting with it—without reaching for a distraction—is exactly where the real benefit happens. Other times, it just feels like another part of my routine, nothing special. And occasionally, I get some of my best ideas.
Silence lets the mind reset—lowering stress, improving focus, and giving thoughts room to settle. When we step away from constant input, we give ourselves the chance to process our own thoughts instead of just reacting to outside noise. That space gives our thoughts room to breathe, making it easier to recognize what actually matters and what’s just noise. When we’re constantly absorbing information, we don’t always process what’s already there. But when we sit in silence, we finally hear what our minds have been trying to tell us—thoughts that get buried under distractions, ideas we haven’t had time to process, or even clarity on something we’ve been overcomplicating. And sometimes, the best part of silence is just that—it gives us a break from all the noise, even the noise in our own heads.
ACTION: Take five minutes today to sit in silence. No screens, no music—just stillness. See what shifts when you give your mind space to just be.
