Using Your Senses A Great Tool For Your Brain

Have you ever wondered why your brain sometimes refuses to cooperate when it matters the most? It could be an exam where your mind blanks, or a moment you desperately want to quit junk food yet can’t bear the thought of denying your senses. This podcast episode dives into how you can engage with your senses to move forward when dyslexia and other challenges get in your way.

The episode looks at small, practical shifts that can make a big difference. You’ll learn how to harness sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch in a more deliberate way. This approach can give your brain extra signals to unlock fresh possibilities. If you’re ready to spark a sense-based strategy for real change, the summary below will help you do just that.

Understanding Your Unique Brain

Dyslexia doesn’t always pop up where or when you expect it. Sometimes it shows up as trouble remembering material in an exam setting. Other times it’s about struggling with small tasks like finishing a set of instructions at work. The variety can feel baffling. But your brain isn’t broken—it’s just wired differently.

This podcast suggests that when you find yourself stuck, it helps to step away from the usual approach of forcing your mind to cooperate. Instead, tune into how your senses perceive your environment. Sometimes the sensation of bright lights or an uncomfortable seat can distract you from your abilities. Noticing and adjusting these factors can help your mind relax.

The Power of Your Senses

Our senses are constantly collecting data, but we rarely pay close attention to them. Becoming aware of how you taste, smell, see, hear, and feel is a potent tool for change. If you want to stop eating certain foods, you can focus on the taste and texture that trigger your cravings. If you’re preparing for an exam, you can control your environment by adjusting lighting, sound, or even the clothes you wear.

“We can use all our senses to stop old patterns in their tracks and see real change in our daily lives.”

In the episode, we explore how you can identify sensory inputs that either distract or empower. It’s win-win because you learn to work with the strengths of your brain, instead of fighting its diverse wiring. It also keeps you from feeling like you’re hitting a wall every time you try to change a habit.

How to Use Sensory Techniques

It’s one thing to say, “Engage your senses,” but how exactly do you do that? Here are a few helpful ideas that came up in the discussion:

• Visual cues: If you lose focus while studying, try a form of mind-mapping or draw diagrams. Have colour-coded notes that stand out.
• Auditory support: Play background music that helps you concentrate. Use speech-to-text tools when your hands get tired of writing.
• Olfactory anchors: Light a scented candle or use essential oils that calm you. Lavender might soothe tension, while citrus can boost alertness.
• Touch and texture: Keep a soft stress ball on your desk. Ground yourself by noticing its feel, or by taking a moment to walk and sense the floor under your feet.
• Taste as a reminder: If you’re keen to skip certain foods, pay attention to what they taste like. Slow down and ask yourself if you actually enjoy it or if it’s just your brain seeking a reward.

Stepping into these details can make the difference between forcing yourself to change and naturally guiding your brain toward healthier choices. When your senses are happy, your mind often follows suit.

Reframing Exams and Challenges

If exams scare you, you’re not alone. The episode dives into why your brain may freeze during a test or revision session. The pressure makes your senses hyper-aware of every small detail, which can be overwhelming. So consider a few ways to reset:

1. Find your environment: Seek a quiet or lightly buzzing space that suits your focus. Some prefer libraries, others thrive in a café.
2. Use timed practice: Make your study sessions short bursts of high concentration. Then treat yourself to a stretch, a quick walk, or a glass of water.
3. Apply your senses strategically: Perhaps you review notes by reading them out loud. You could use a scented bookmark to cue you into “study mode.”

These minor adjustments help remove stress triggers. Instead of telling yourself you need to “try harder,” you’re creating a supportive environment that invites your brain to do its best.

Moving Beyond Food Cravings

You might have a favourite food habit that feels impossible to break. It could be reaching for sweets every afternoon or indulging in late-night snacks. The episode looks at how you can get curious about these habits rather than beating yourself up. Ask yourself what sense is driving the craving: the taste in your mouth, the sight of the packaging, or the sound it makes when you unwrap it?

By naming the powerful role each sense plays, you get clarity on what triggers you. You can remove or replace those triggers. For instance, if the sound of a crisp packet sets you off, switch to a small container that doesn’t rustle. Or if you find relief in the soothing smell of chocolate, maybe swap in a low-sugar hot cocoa or a piece of fruit with a sweet aroma.

When you break it down, it’s all about making your environment work for you rather than against you. If you always stock your cabinet with sweets, you’ll keep being tempted. Changing the way your senses interact with food clears a path for easier self-control.

• Our senses feed us constant data, and understanding it helps us stay in control.
• Smaller changes, like lighting and scents, can boost learning and recall.
• Food cravings often hinge on sensory triggers, so switching them around is powerful.
• Dyslexic minds excel when they respect their natural wiring instead of fighting it.

Before you go, remember the full episode’s audio is available at the top of the page. If you want to learn more about digging into your senses to move beyond everyday hurdles, listen in for more tips. It might just spark new ideas for turning your unique brain into your most powerful ally.

Ready to dive deeper? Give the full podcast a listen and see how harnessing your senses could be a game-changer in your life.