“We can know, for instance, that sounds and colors are unlike, though no organ of sense can perceive both.” Bertrand Russell on History of Western Philosophy
How it Happened:
With cirrus clouds and sea spray hazing the space around me, my unbuttoned Hawaiian shirt flapping wildly in the wind, and occasional lounging beach patrons, I was consumed by deep reflection on the previous week’s trip to alpine Oaxaca City while walking down Zicatela beach. The walk itself was rather quiet, I spoke with several groups of people in both Spanish and English, took some photos, and then went to listen to a playlist when… my headphones were nowhere to be found.
I deduced that the wind must have flipped them out of my shirt pocket, and fruitlessly retraced my footsteps in pursuit. At a loss, I mulled over skipping restaurant eating for a few days to offset the cost of a new pair, or sacrificing quality for a cheap price, but found both options dismaying. I also thought about not getting any, but this seemed unnecessarily penal — until I recalled an article about Mike Posner (I Took a Pill in Ibiza artist) walking across USA, and how his experience grew richer when he unplugged from the headphones. Recalling this article allowed me to reframe the situation.
It was then I decided to abandon headphones. At first, I set an “at least two weeks” mark to be without them, but the two weeks passed and it felt insufficient; I wanted to keep pushing myself.
At time of writing this article, I have gone over a month and traversed several hundred miles without headphones.
What I Learned:
Most travelers see headphones as indispensable for buses and vans, airports, even hostels or shared workspaces. Headphones are such a routine part of life today that many people cannot envision their lives without them. How many people a day do you see plugged in, deaf to their surroundings, tuned in first & foremost to the world contained within their ear speakers? And how many people, as if on autopilot, navigate their surroundings with one of the five senses completely occupied?
Maybe you are one of these people and if so, please don’t construe my questioning as accusation or reprimand, but as genuine inquiry into a potentially unexamined habit or tendency. I too have been totally occupied by headphones and this is how I know the benefits of unplugging.
One benefit is increased mindfulness. Netflix, alcohol, and headphones all fit into the category of escapism. Through escapism people forget whatever weighs on their consciousness, and forgetting is the first step to suppressing — a short term solution capable of long term psychological damage. Escaping the psyche’s pain is not a healthy long-term option concerning wellness and I found that unplugging the headphones gave me opportunities for deep mindfulness on my many solo walks (I averaged 4.5 miles a day during this month!). These sessions, otherwise occupied by headphone noise, were a chance to unpack and breathe.
Another benefit is increased control of the mind. Whatever we listen to affects us, and this is obvious considering how certain music connects with certain moods. But constantly pumping our minds full of highly stimulating, mood-influencing noises can distract us from our inner whisper which directs us towards greater adventure. Now, you could claim that by picking what noises you listen to, more control is manifested than listening to a variably noisy world. But an artificial, sterile choice of stimulus emulates the formulaic approach to life which ensnares many people into hyper logical, controlling modes of thought. The beauty of life is embracing our lack of control, and mastery of this concept is (paradoxically) what grants us the most control over our lives. Alan Watts has a great talk about this, listen to it when you have an hour of free time.
The last benefit is greater mental strength. Ultimately, people turn to their headphones as a crutch (and sometimes, also, for hands-free calling) to make coping with their lives easier. The fewer crutches, the harder to stand, but also the stronger your footing upon learning to stand. The mental strength I found from abandoning headphones comes from a deeper connection to my surroundings, and myself. I listen better to people and nature, can still sleep through 8 hour van rides, and even figured out how to work in hideously loud environments without headphones. Pushing through these challenges using will power is initially exhausting, but in time pays off in mental stamina like a habitual workout routine.
The truth is that modern conveniences saturate our souls with ideas that devices like headphones play an essential role in our lives. An item like headphones can play an essential role in our lives, but only if permitted. Abandoning my headphones caused me stress for the first ten days or so, but after a while my surroundings and my reactions to those surroundings during collective rides, long walks, or working environments became far more interesting than whatever sterile noise a pair of headphones could emanate.
Is Unplugging the Headphones for Me?
Yes. Unplugging the headphones is for everybody, no doubt. Unplugging the headphones is an exercise everyone should practice periodically, at the least. Go a couple weeks, a month, go for some arbitrary extended period of time without headphones until the urge to put them in your ears diminishes. Then reevaluate how important they are to you.
Although music and podcasts are a joy and can be educative, the best teacher is experience and unplugging allows for a richer, more mindful experience. I’m not saying to cut out all music, rather to examine your habits surrounding headphones and push yourself to be less reliant on them — but less reliant on anything in general. This is the path to becoming a philosopher, to increased fortitude, to breaking a Mental Sweat.
Feel free to reach out to me via email, at mentalsweatofficial.com, or on social media.
-Justin Markowitz
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