Listening has many upsides
Will remedy birds be the brand new remedy dogs? Stay tuned.
At a time when extra individuals are spending more time indoors, it may be head-spinning to contemplate the well being advantages of merely going exterior. That can contain forest bathing or getting a sure variety of steps in — however there are different advantages to being outdoor, and even having the outside in earshot, which might be somewhat extra passive in nature. Like, say, listening to birds as they sing.
There’s a sure allure to that, however there’s additionally a rising physique of labor suggesting that listening to birds sing can have well being advantages. Last 12 months, The Washington Post‘s Richard Sima pointed to two recent studies that pointed to the health benefits of birdsong. More specifically, the studies revealed and clarified the ways in which hearing birds singing bolstered the mental health of the listeners — in some cases, reducing levels of paranoia and anxiety.
There are technological ramifications to these findings as well. Last month, a Euronews story focused on AI technology that could filter out some background noises but not others — meaning that someone jogging in a park could listen to their favorite podcast while also letting in the sound of whatever birds happen to be in the area.
More recently, The Washington Post‘s Cathy Free chronicled a former pay phone in Takoma Park, Maryland that’s been reworked right into a approach for passers-by to listen to the sounds of a number of of the world’s avian residents.
David Schulman, the musician behind the cellphone, instructed the Post, “Once I put the phone out there, it just took off.” Given the advantages that may come from listening to birds sing their songs, it’s not arduous to see (or hear) what the enchantment could be.
Whether you’re trying to get into form, or simply get out of a funk, The Charge has received you coated. Sign up for our new wellness publication immediately.
