I love podcasts and audiobooks. They help me learn about the world and be generally entertained effectively all the time. The rise of Audible has let me fill previously “empty” time with books, allowing me to get through more books than ever before.

But the downside of these is that they make it very easy to start filling every moment of silence in your life with someone talking in your ear. Getting ready for work? Podcast time! Taking a shower? Get a chapter of your latest book knocked out! Making breakfast? Listen to a daily news podcast!

I do this all the time, but I’m doing my best to let some of these times be silent again. These moments of being alone with our thoughts are hugely useful (who hasn’t had brilliant ideas in the shower?) and while books and podcasts can teach you things in this time, sometimes it’s even more valuable to let your mind run wild and think about whatever it wants.