In the New Year, you might start to think about ways to look after your health, lifestyle changes that you can make to improve your health and well-being, and things that you might want to give up to improve your health. It’s often a time to reflect, and assess how we are feeling, and to make changes aimed at self-improvement. But what about your senses?
Most of us are guilty of neglecting our senses. We assume that they’ll always be there for us, that we won’t start to notice any deterioration until we are much older, and that senses like smell and touch will never fail. But this isn’t always true. Without care and attention, your senses might already be suffering. Spend a little time on your senses, and you might find that they improve. Let’s take a look at some ways that you can boost your senses while you are making healthy changes in the New Year.
Improve Your Sight By Practicing 20/20/20
Many of us today work at computers, or otherwise spend large amounts of our time staring at screens. Do you ever find that when you look up from your screen, your vision is blurry? Or that you struggle to focus for a while? This is quite normal and usually settles after a few minutes. But, it can be dangerous if you need to drive, and over time, could cause permanent sight deterioration.
To combat the effects of screens, and make it easier to balance your focus, experts recommend practicing 20/20/20. After every 20 minutes of staring at a screen, or something close to your face, spend 20 seconds, staring at something 20 feet away.
Get Your Eyes Tested
You should be getting your eyes tested every two years, even if your sight seems fine. An eye test will spot even small changes with your vision and check other elements of your eye health.
Keep Your Glasses Clean
Looking at the world through dirty or smeared lenses means that your eyes are working much harder than they need to be. Get into the habit of cleaning your glasses to ease the strain.
Rest Your Eyes
Our eyes are working hard all of the time. The best ways to rest them are sleeping, and spending time away from screens and other devices, perhaps taking a walk outside. This will also give your other senses a break.
Improve Your Hearing with an Ear Exam
Hearing issues might be looked at by a hearing expert, but you might wonder about ENT vs AUD if you are suffering from hearing loss, buzzing or ringing, or other ear health issues. You might wonder if it’s your ears or your hearing that is causing the problems. If you’re not sure if you need an Audiologist or an ENT doctor, it might be a good idea to see an Audiologist first, who might refer you to an ENT doctor if they feel unable to find the cause of your hearing issues. Either way, if you are experiencing hearing issues, head to a professional for help as soon as you notice changes.
Practice Yoga
Yoga can be a significant boost for all of your senses but, in particular, your sense of touch and your hearing. Yoga makes you more aware of your body and how things feel. It teaches you to focus and gives you a chance to appreciate how hard your body is working. Poses where you hold your head down, such as a forward fold, also allow the blood to rush to your head, and ears, you might even hear it. This increased circulation can boost your hearing.
Try to Identify Sounds
Another great way to boost your sense of hearing is to challenge it. When you listen to music, try to identify different instruments, and even notes if you can. When you have sat alone in a quiet environment, spend time simply listening. Try to identify different sounds, such as animals or vehicles. Spend a little time every day just listening, and making a note of what you can hear, pushing yourself to make identifications and to hear more detail.
Improve Taste with New Flavors
As we age, our taste buds decrease, and it becomes harder to taste different flavors. But, you can still give your taste buds a work out by trying. Add new ingredients and flavors to your diet, and when you eat, do it mindfully — thinking about what you can taste. You can also work your sense of smell at the same time, trying to identify different ingredients by smelling the meal.
This post was a collaboration.
Thank you for reading!
