Take off your headphones on the way to class

I’m on my way to my first class of the day, and as I’m heading out the door and fitting my AirPods into my ears, I don’t hear the familiar ping indicating a Bluetooth connection. Disgruntled, I pull out my phone to pair my headphones manually, only to be frustrated further by a notice reading “Connection Failed.” My earbuds are dead. 

This is an unfortunate yet common occurrence for me, and yet again I resign myself to a silent 10 to 15-minute walk. Over time, however, I’ve slowly come to take solace in my quiet hikes to class. In between classes, work and study time backed by classical or lo-fi music, I rarely have the time to just exist in silence and take everything in.

I know I’m not alone. Late last year, the “Silent Walk” trend swept through TikTok, encouraging users to take a bare-bones walk — no music or podcasts, only a pedestrian and their surroundings. For those whose walks are often accompanied by a soundtrack, intentionally leaving your phone and headphones behind to simply be with your own thoughts can be anxiety-inducing. Even so, getting over that hurdle and taking in your surroundings, all while staying in motion, makes silent walking one of the better trends that’s come out of TikTok.

Older generations, of course, have mocked the idea of silent walking — “They think they just invented going out for a walk with no phone, no screens, just to clear your head,” one responding TikToker said. And to some extent, they’re right. Walking just for the sake of it predates smartphones, MP3 players and Walkmans.

What criticism toward silent walking misses, however, is that the Silent Walk is meant to be a solution rather than an entirely new concept. Gen Z is aware of their technology dependencies and is looking for remedies. A technology-free walk, then, is a much needed challenge for young people to leave behind their technological distractions and enjoy what their city, park or nearest trail has to offer.

When you arrive on campus for your first semester, you don’t even need to designate silent walking time within your day-to-day life. You’ll probably be walking outside every day, but unfortunately, you — like many on the Diag and across campus — might not be walking in the mindful sense. From Weiser Hall to Mason Hall to the Central Campus Classroom Building, we all rush past one another with our headphones on, rarely taking a moment to acknowledge each other and the world around us. We’re missing out on the opportunity to connect to our environment and our community, but the solution is simple: We need to take off our damn headphones.

I’m someone who enjoys writing, so I’ve come to know firsthand the benefits of a walk — especially a silent one — in terms of creativity. When I walk without the sole intention of getting from point A to point B and instead focus on observing the world around me, I’m able to find new things along the same route I take to and from class. Noticing these small details often helps inspire me, but this doesn’t apply to just writers or creatives. The creative boost a walk provides might help you figure out how to problem solve in your group project or how to approach your problem set.

Beyond creativity, a walk sans headphones can help improve sleep quality and mood, both of which are important for student success. There’s also the social factor to being aware of what’s around you as you’re on the move. When you stroll without headphones, which signify “I don’t want to talk” to the outside world, you open yourself up to greeting friends or acquaintances and making new connections. 

Now, this doesn’t mean I’m advising you throw your headphones or earbuds in the nearest trash bin. I still enjoy going on a walk accompanied by a playlist or the newest episode of my favorite podcast. Headphones become especially handy when I want to avoid chit-chat and be on my way. Still, it’s important to consider what you might be missing out on, from social interactions to the sounds of chirping birds to the fascinating actions of a Diag squirrel. 

Really, it’s all about balance. A great set of songs can sometimes put you in the perfect mood on your way to class, but other times, a walk without headphones, whether it’s with friends or just yourself, might be what you need. If you find yourself in a similar situation to me, with dead headphones and a silent walk ahead, consider the opportunity before you as valuable instead of irritating. And if you’re better than me, with headphones constantly charged, still consider taking a silent walk on your next trek across the Diag. As a freshman, you deserve a break that allows you to absorb all that this campus environment has to offer.

Senior Opinion Editor Audra Woehle can be reached at awoehle@umich.edu

The post Take off your headphones on the way to class appeared first on The Michigan Daily.