Ash Pickett is a Business Administration Junior and opinion columnist for Mustang News. The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of Mustang Media Group.
The other day, as I was brushing my teeth in the morning and listening to a podcast, I felt my AirPod slowly begin to slip out of my ear. A combination of early-morning brain fog and slow reaction time meant the AirPod was effectively drowned in a bowl of swirling water and Colgate.
After the incident, I stuck it in rice and went about my day. I was a little concerned that going on a run without the AirPod would be painful, but it turned out to be just fine. Just as my walk to school – which I do without AirPods – is completely fine.
All of winter quarter, I’ve walked to and from school without AirPods in: no music, no podcast, no calls. From these 20-minute intervals, I’ve seen some of my favorite ideas come to life.
I brainstorm ideas for projects I’ve been wanting to work on but have been putting off, contemplate ways I can approach my day with intention and even go down spirals so long I basically black out and get to campus without realizing I was ever walking.
People don’t spend enough time alone with their thoughts these days, and it’s staunching our creativity and time spent practicing critical thinking.
Everywhere I look around campus, students have their heads down and AirPods in, blasting music to tune out the sound of their own thoughts. I encourage you to set aside time to think and be with yourself. Then go one step further and make it a routine part of your day.
Being a college student means being constantly overwhelmed by the cacophony of a busy schedule. I’m prone to a racing mind from the second I wake up to the moment my head hits the pillow: homework, extracurriculars, work, friends, family…there’s always something to think about.
There’s no harm in being busy, but there is harm in losing time with yourself to a life lived at breakneck speed. Think about something you’ve been wanting to try for a while but haven’t gotten around to. Is it trying out a new hobby, starting a big project, reconnecting with your creative side or maybe reaching out to an old friend?
Oftentimes, we don’t allow ourselves the time to even think about these lost ideas, much less expand on them and grow them into fully formed plans. When an author sits down to write or a painter begins work on a canvas, it typically comes from some kind of inspiration. Let your time alone with yourself help you cultivate that inspiration, then direct it toward whatever it is you’ve been putting off.
To spend more time with your thoughts, first figure out what will work best for you. In my case, I walk to school every day, and I love to hike. So if I find myself alone on either of those two ventures, I opt out of wearing AirPods and let myself swim in my thoughts. You might find time to practice this while going on runs, picnicking at the beach or sitting on the lawn between classes.
Inevitably, boredom will hit you. It’s no big secret that boredom is the door to creativity. Allow yourself to wallow in and appreciate that feeling, and be patient.
The reason I prefer walking and hiking is because I get stimulation from the physical movements and environment around me, so I’m never overly bored. You can apply that in your day to whatever suits you.
I want to say that I love music and podcasts as much as the next person. I don’t necessarily think anyone needs to sacrifice those from their day-to-day life to make time for their thoughts. All I ask is that if you see there’s a time where you can let yourself sit in silence, and let yourself be bored – in due time, you may just see some incredible results.
We have the power to craft our lives to create the best versions of ourselves. In a world where constant chatter overwhelms our thoughts, it’s nice to take a step back. I hope you all can find a way to do so.
Give it a try and ditch the AirPods, just for a bit.