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Listening to audio content, such as podcasts, audiobooks or news articles, can enhance our day-to-day lives in numerous ways, from helping us increase our self-awareness to improving our mental and physical health. Here are 5 ways that listening to audio content may benefit you:
1. It Can Help You Use Your Time More Efficiently
Listening to audio can help improve your multitasking abilities and make your daily tasks more meaningful. Do you ever feel like you spend copious amounts of time waiting in traffic, commuting to and from work, or doing mindless chores, and are not receiving any personal value during this time? Listening to audio that interests you, such as specific podcasts, can make your daily tasks feel more fulfilling. In addition, the convenience of being able to bring audio content with you anytime and anywhere makes it easier than ever to spend your time in a meaningful and productive way.
2. It Can Help Improve Your Vision
On average, how many hours a day do you spend staring at a screen? It is estimated that the average adult spends approximately 8.5 hours per day looking at a screen. Problematically, increased screen time can be strenuous on your eyes and have adverse effects on your vision, consequences that are commonly referred to as Computer Vision Syndrome. Harvard Health revealed that spending too much time staring at a screen is positively correlated with two of the most common symptoms of Computer Vision Syndrome: dry eyes and eye strain. By opting for audio content and reducing your screen time, you are helping protect your eyesight in the short-term and long-term.
3. It Can Help You Become A Better Driver
Do you have difficulty concentrating on long drives? If so, listening to audio content while you drive may be a potential solution. Researchers from the University of Guelph demonstrated that some drivers who listen to audiobooks while driving tend to have a quicker reaction time when faced with hazards in a simulated driving environment. Additionally, drivers who listened to audiobooks also followed the speed limit more closely than those who did not. Further, listening to audio content can help overcome fatigue and boredom when driving, which are both factors that increase the likelihood of driving collisions.
4. It Can Reduce The Risks of Brain Damage Associated With An Increased Amount of Screen Time
Increased amounts of screen time can have detrimental effects on your cognitive functioning. Dr. Victoria Dunckley uses the term “electronic screen syndrome” to describe her patients who suffer from heightened anxiety, poor sleep and low attention span. Her research also revealed that those who spend long periods of time staring at a screen suffer from a loss of brain tissue that affects the development of the brain’s frontal lobe, which directly impacts their physical and mental wellbeing.
5. It Can Help Improve Your Mental Health
Sometimes we all experience negative thoughts and feelings. However, did you know that listening to someone read aloud can reduce feelings of depression and anxiety by providing a temporary escape from one’s negative thoughts? Interestingly, research also suggests that there are mental health benefits of listening to audio content for individuals of all ages. For instance, experimental studies suggest that teenagers and elderly individuals who were randomly assigned to an audiobook condition reported reduced psychological difficulties and improved mental health, respectively. Thus, listening to audio content is not only interesting but can help move you towards better psychological functioning!