Navigating Noise and Mental Health

In this episode, Alyssa and Nadia reflect on how noise, social stimulation, and personal priorities shape their daily lives. The conversation opens with lighthearted banter about barking dogs, road construction, and the toll constant noise can take on mental health. From there, they dive into deeper reflections on social energy, nightlife, and the push-pull between wanting to participate in everything versus needing rest and solitude.

Nadia shares her evolving perspective on social life in Boston, adjusting to college routines, balancing work at a café, and questioning whether she’s “missing out” by choosing quiet nights over parties. Alyssa contrasts this with her recent whirlwind trip to Las Vegas, where stimulation overload made her crave peace, underscoring the theme that both too much and too little activity can affect well-being.

The discussion turns toward busyness, structure, and societal pressures to be constantly productive. They explore how being “always busy” can sometimes mask deeper emotions, but can also simply reflect a love of staying engaged. Nadia opens up about the looming weight of pre-med requirements, balancing passion with strategy, and navigating headspace consumed by future goals. Alyssa responds with reassurance from her own journey, reframing the process as focusing on meaningful steps rather than pure strategy.

The episode closes on the reminder that rest is just as essential as productivity, and that both fun and downtime have value in a healthy, sustainable lifestyle.

Takeaways

• Noise and constant stimulation affect mental health more than we often acknowledge.

• Social energy shifts over time — it’s normal to prefer quiet nights over partying, even in college.

• Busyness can be both a coping mechanism and a fulfilling way of life, depending on intention.

• Structure and routine can provide comfort, but flexibility and free time are equally important.

• Pursuing big goals (like medical school) requires balancing strategy with genuine passion.

• Rest and fun are not indulgences — they are critical for long-term well-being.

Chapters

0:10–3:05 – Dogs, Construction, and How Noise Shapes Mental Health

3:06–6:36 – Nadia’s Shift Away from Partying and Managing Café Work-Life Balance

6:37–8:11 – Alyssa’s Overstimulating Vegas Trip and Midlife Social Lessons

8:12–9:29 – Choosing Rest Over FOMO: Leaning Into Quiet Nights

9:30–14:32 – Busyness, Structure, and the Fear of Stillness

14:33–18:31 – Med School Goals: Strategy vs. Passion

18:32–20:43 – Balancing Co-op, Career Goals, and Future Planning

20:21–21:37 – Wrapping Up: Rest, Fun, and Social Chair Irony