STRONGER TOGETHER: Living Mindfully & Rediscovering the Power of Your Senses

"STRONGER TOGETHER" is a weekly column where Tanya explores key issues. This week Tanya discusses how losing her sense of taste and smell due to illness led her to rediscover the importance of engaging all her senses mindfully in daily life.

By IMPACT Community Services Managing Director Tanya O'Shea

Imagine waking up one day and realising you can’t taste your morning coffee or smell the fresh sea air. This happened to me recently due to an illness, and it profoundly changed my perception of the world. After several days without taste and smell, I became more attuned to my remaining senses and started to truly appreciate what I had temporarily lost.

The most vivid reminder of the power of our senses came when I was pregnant and experiencing debilitating morning sickness. Certain smells in our home would set me off at random times, day and night. While a vacation provided relief, the symptoms returned the moment I smelled those familiar scents again – a vivid reminder of the power of our senses, and the link between smell, mood, and even physical health.

As a parent, I’ve watched my children explore the world with all their senses. When they were toddlers, everything was an opportunity for discovery— looking, listening, smelling, touching, and tasting (unfortunately nothing was off limits with what went in their mouths). Their sensory world was vibrant and all-encompassing.

But as they grew older, I noticed a shift. Emotions ruled their world, and sensory experiences became more selective, often reduced to the visual and auditory input they received from screens.

This is a common occurrence in our modern world, where we are bombarded with stimuli, particularly through devices that demand our constant attention. Whether it’s the incessant noise of urban life or the visual assault of screens, our senses are often overwhelmed, leading us to unconsciously close off from the full spectrum of sensory experiences.

I found myself guilty of this, too—so focused on getting through the day that I rarely paused to truly engage with my environment. I had forgotten the simple joys of savouring a meal, feeling the warmth of the sun, or listening to the subtle sounds of nature.

But all is not lost. If you’re reading this and recognising that you, too, may have dulled your senses, there’s hope. Reawakening your sensory awareness is possible with a little intentional practice. Start small, with just a few minutes a day. Choose a sense you’d like to focus on and try these simple exercises:

• Sight: Take regular breaks from screens. Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 meters away for 20 seconds. Use your peripheral vision to notice what else is in view.
• Sound: Close your eyes and tune into the sounds around you. Identify different pitches and tones.
• Touch: Feel the texture of a pet’s fur, the warmth of the sun, or the sand between your toes. These simple acts can ground you in the present moment.
• Taste: Mindfully savour your food. Notice the flavours and textures with each bite. Try holding your nose to isolate the taste, then release it to fully experience the food.
• Smell: Enhance your sense of smell with deep breathing exercises like the 4-7-8 technique (breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 7 seconds, breathe out for 8 seconds).

It’s easy to overlook the sensory richness around us. By reconnecting with our senses, we bring more mindfulness and enjoyment into daily life. So today, pause, breathe, and rediscover the world through your senses—you might just find a new appreciation for the simple pleasures of life.