why I wear wired headphones

Hi friends! I hope you’re having a wonderful week. I’m headed to Orlando for back-to-back adventures and will be sure to report back! Check out my IG stories for all the fun.

For today’s post, I wanted to chat a bit about headphones.

Here I am with my wired headphones, years after the bluetooth options arrived on the scene.

In college, I had a bluetooth earpiece (along with everyone else who thought they were cool lol) and used it constantly. I couldn’t help but wonder if it was bad for my brain, and decided to eventually stop using it. I’ve always been wary about phones and bluetooth close to my head, but for convenience, I used Bose sport headphones for years. (I loved these things!!) Over time, I’ve learned more about EMFs and decided to make the swap back to wired headphones a couple of years ago.

The Wired vs. Wireless Debate

Wireless headphones, like Air Pods, have become extremely popular, but wired headphones still have a strong following. I feel like as people have become more health conscious, they’ve gravitated back to wired headphones. Maybe they’re returning back to wired headphones after using wireless, maybe they delight in being old school, or maybe they stick with wired for some of the reasons below.

Better Sound Quality

Wireless headphones tend to produce more consistent audio, without interface or drops.

It also seems like many musicians, sound engineers, and those who value audio quality tend to prefer wired headphones.

No Need to Charge

One of the nicest things about wired headphones is the battery-free convenience. You never have to worry about charging them.

They’re also perfect for long use since you don’t have to take breaks to recharge.

These are also a lower stress option because you don’t have to worry about the headphones dying mid-use, especially during workuots, calls, or long trips..

More Reliable Connection

Wired headphones are also more reliable since you don’t have to worry about signal drops or interference that can occur with Bluetooth. They connect instantly without pairing or connection issues; simply plug them in and you’re good to go.

They’re also compatible with multiple devices and you don’t have to worry about connectivity issues.

Health and EMF Concerns

Wireless headphones emit electromagnetic fields (EMFs), which some people prefer to avoid. The more I learn about EMFs, the more I prefer to minimize exposure as much as possible. I tend to be more sensitive to these things, and it was even worse when I was in the depths of my healing journey.

Wired headphones eliminate the close proximity to Bluetooth signals, which is another peace of mind for EMF exposure. This is an interesting article.

With long-term use, it’s less of a worry for those who are seeking to limit radiation exposure. (And if you’re one of those people who is like, “They’re not that bad. They’re within the safe limits,” live your life. I’m trying to limit my own explosure and exposure for the kids.)

Durability and Longevity

Battery-powered heaphones degrade over time and also less resistance to wear and tear. They also seem to have less technical issues. Wired headphones are cheaper to replace if anything goes awry.

Cost-Effective

Wired headphones are more afforable than wireless headphones, and there’s no need to constantly upgrade. Once you own the fact that you’re rolling old school, there’s zero pressure to be constantly upgrading your headphones. You also aren’t paying for extra features you don’t need, like Bluetooth or wireless charging.

Why I Chose Wired Headphones

For myself, I’m happy I went back to the wired headphones and don’t have to worry about EMF exposure. I use the classic Apple wired headphones with my phone, and love Bose wired headphones for my computer.

I haven’t been lifting at the gym in quite a while, so I typically take a class (where music is blasting on the speakers), or work out at home to my speaker. For walks with Maisey, I put my phone in this EMF-blocking fanny pack (one of my favorite things!). It’s also been helpful for travel because I don’t have to worry about my headphones dying, and also don’t have to fret that my Bluetooth hasn’t connected while I’m blasting Broadway showtunes on the plane lol.