Meditation is a great way to learn to relax and better manage your stress levels. Mediating with earplugs is a great way to block out outside distractions, meditate in a busy place or focus on your breathing.
There are both pros and cons of meditating with earplugs. This article will explore 8 things to know before you decide to meditate with earplugs.
8 Things to Know About Meditating with Earplugs
When you meditate, one of your goals is to be aware of the sounds all around you and to learn to deal with those sounds or noises so they are no longer a distraction.
Meditating with earplugs offers both pros and cons, and below are some of them.
Meditating with Earplugs – Pros
1. You Can Focus More on Breathing
Earplugs can help you to concentrate on your breath. By blocking out other noises, you can focus more attention on the feeling of your breath and move deeply into a meditative state.
Earplugs are a great way to reduce distractions and to focus inwards.
2. They Block Out Some Noises
If you can’t meditate without your kids being in the other room or your neighbor cutting the grass, good earplugs can eliminate those noises and allow you to concentrate more on the meditation itself.
Too much noise is a huge obstacle for many people wanting to meditate because they can’t get around it regardless of how hard they try.
3. They Can Help You Focus Better
Earplugs are great for beginning meditators because it’s sometimes difficult to learn to focus when you get started. Because earplugs will block out at least some of the outside noises, it can teach you how to focus without having to put up with the background noise as well.
4. They Allow You to Meditate Anywhere
Finally, earplugs are good because you can meditate anywhere, including a long plane ride or even on a long car ride. You don’t have to be sitting in your home in a quiet place to meditate as long as you have earplugs because any location becomes a meditation location with these.
Meditating with Earplugs – Cons
5. They Can Be a Crutch
Sometimes, wearing earplugs while meditating gives you a false sense of security, especially if you use them all the time. Because of this, it is more difficult to learn how to meditate without earplugs.
If you ever wish to meditate but don’t have your earplugs with you, you might find it difficult to focus, concentrate, and breathe correctly.
6. You’ll Miss the Benefits of Background Noise
People who wear earplugs every time they meditate miss out on some of the advantages of meditation. This includes having soothing music in the background that always does a great job of helping you relax, which is a key component of making the most out of your meditation sessions.
7. They Are Bad for People with Tinnitus
If you have tinnitus, the symptoms may become worse when you’re wearing earplugs. When people wear earplugs, they often hear the ringing sound in their ears a lot more, which can make your tinnitus feel worse. This, in turn, makes meditating a little more complicated.
8. You Might Hear Your Heartbeat
A lot of people hear their own heartbeat when they’re meditating and wearing earplugs at the same time. This is both distracting and uncomfortable, which directly affects the success of your meditation session.
Some people don’t mind hearing their own heartbeat when they’re meditating, but most people find it annoying.
When to Use Earplugs for Meditation
Even if you are used to meditating without earplugs, there are times when you might want to change your mind and use your earplugs. When most people meditate, they’re at home and in a comfortable position.
If you decide to meditate when you’re in another location that’s away from home, you might need earplugs to get rid of the sounds of someone else’s loud music, babies crying, and even the sounds of lots of traffic nearby. When you’re on vacation and in a new location, you might find earplugs to be a huge advantage.
If you’re a beginner, it might be advantageous to use earplugs while you meditate, at least in the beginning. By drowning out extraneous sounds, earplugs allow you to concentrate on all of the things that help you meditate better, such as your breathing, focus, and concentration.
The Best Earplugs for Meditation
When looking for meditation earplugs, two features should be considered. The first is the decibel level, or dB level, that the earplugs accommodate. To put it into perspective, 10 dB is the sound of normal breathing, while 145 dB is the sound of fireworks.
The second feature is the noise reduction rating, or NRR, which goes as high as 34 dB. Higher numbers usually mean getting a quieter environment, and these numbers are usually printed on the box to help you decide.
When to Use Noise-Canceling Headphones for Meditation
If you are used to meditating while listening to soft music and you suddenly find yourself surrounded by noise that you’re not used to, noise-canceling headphones can help.
They are made to cancel out sounds from traffic or conversations by others, and therefore they make it easier to focus and concentrate on what you’re doing and nothing else. Anytime you run into unexpected noises when you’re meditating, these headphones can help a lot.
Conclusion
Meditating is a healthy activity because it improves both your body and your mind. If you choose to wear earplugs when you meditate, you should research the pros and cons first. Once you do this, you’ll be able to decide if earplugs are right for you.