The Top 10 Ways to Get Some Peace & Quiet

If you'd like to try, here are a few ideas to get you started:

1. Plan daily "quiet time".

The best way to quiet down is to pla
30-minutes (or more) of daily quiet time. Time you can spend quietly, with yourself and your thoughts.

2. Create a noise-free zone.

Designate one room of your house as a noise-free zone where family members can go relax.

3. Turn off the television/radio.

Do you leave your t.v. or radio on as "background noise?" If so, try turning them off.

4. Turn off your telephone, especially at night.

Nothing is more disturbing than the shrill ring of a telephone when you are trying to relax. Turn off your phone's ringer. Let the answering machine or voicemail system get a message.

5. Turn off your cel phone.

In fact, leave it at home. After a while you may find that you don't even need it.

6. Turn off your beeper.

Do you *really* need to be contactable every minute of every day?

7. Turn off your computer.

Today, we receive as much information in a single day as a person did in an entire year in the early 1900 's. A large portion of that wave of information comes from our daily contact with the computer... so turn it off. Check your email tomorrow. Give your mind a rest.

8. Get away from the kids, the pets, etc.

Ask a friend or family member to babysit/petsit for you for a day or two. (Then help *them* get some quiet time and return the favor.)

9. Take a nap.

We are much more sensitive to the stress noise creates when we are lacking sleep. So take a nap and recharge your batteries.

10. Take a hike!

Literally. If you're going to surround yourself with noise, then surround yourself with the noise of nature. Reconnect with yourself and with the natural world around you, stroll around your favorite park or recreation area.