We live in a world of constant distractions, a never-ending stream of things vying for our attention. Every walk to class, drive to the store or meal warrants some form of entertainment. According to the National Library of Medicine, university students spend 6 hours and 53 minutes per day on their phones. This is something that Jacob Lanning, a junior at Calvin, found hard to ignore. 

“Last year, I started to realize how much time I spent on my phone — three, four, five hours every day,” Lanning said. “In a time with infinite distractions at the tip of our fingers, I felt God calling me to listen.” 

This call resulted in Lanning’s creation of No Noise November, a month-long practice of stepping away from digital noise. After “lots of convincing and motivating” as well as weekly homemade breakfasts at his house, he gathered 15 of his friends to join him, Lanning explained.  

“I define noise as anything that is a distraction, digital entertainment, or just generally not beneficial.” Lanning described that for him, that included things like “Snapchat, Instagram, YouTube, Netflix, Spotify, podcasts, movies, Facebook Marketplace, or anything similar.” 

For most participants, the biggest adjustment was filling transition periods, or idle moments during the day. Music, interestingly, was described as the hardest habit to break. “It is instinct to put on your music when you get in your car,” Lanning said. “Driving by yourself without music is a very different experience.”

Will Anama, another participant, echoed this: “[Not] listening to music during car rides has definitely stinks,” he said. “Even just a three- or four-minute drive, still, no music. Now it’s just quiet. I hear all the noise my car makes.”

The group has also described experiencing phantom habits with their phones. “Just walking to my car, I would scroll,” Anama explained. “Even if it’s five minutes, I’d normally be on my phone, but now I don’t.”

Lanning described noticing he had physical attachment to his phone, saying that “sometimes I just hold onto my phone in my pocket because it feels comforting. I realized I have almost an emotional connection to it, and I don’t know if that’s something we should have with our phones.”

This intentional separation, however, has had surprising benefits. “I’ve become a better listener,” Lanning said. “And the amount of random amazing conversations I’ve had just because I’m not on my phone — it’s crazy.”

Last year, Lanning prolonged several habits as a result of No Noise November, and he expects the same this time. “I was definitely encouraged to keep some of the habits,” he said. “I was on my phone less than before.” Anama also described a plan to be more mindful, saying that “I think the biggest thing is having more self-control and realizing how much time I spend on my phone.”

The project even sparked spiritual and philosophical reflection. Lanning shared a quote from C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters about the devil’s use of constant noise: “Noise, the grand dynamism, the audible expression of all that is exultant, ruthless and virile — Noise which alone defends us from silly qualms, despairing scruples and impossible desires. We will make the whole universe a noise in the end. We have already made great strides in this direction as regards the Earth. The melodies and silences of Heaven will be shouted down in the end.” 

For these students, embracing silence wasn’t empty; it gave room for greater opportunities of friendship, prayer and simply being present.