What if some of the things affecting your energy and focus are hiding in plain sight?
We’re all affected by what we do and the environments we spend time in, but not necessarily in the same way. The background noise you barely notice, the places where you find it easier to concentrate, or the activities that leave you feeling more energised or drained can all provide clues about what works well for you.
Understanding your sensory preferences can help you become more aware of how different activities and environments affect you, and why you may respond to them as you do. This can help you make more informed choices about your everyday life and create conditions that better support how you want to feel and function.
Do any of these sound familiar?
You may never have thought much about your sensory preferences, but you’ve probably notice some of the ways they show up in everyday life.
Perhaps you:
● find yourself avoiding certain places because you know you won’t feel comfortable there, even when you can’t quite explain why
● feel surprisingly drained by situations that other people seem to manage easily
● become distracted by sounds, movement or other things that people around you barely seem to notice, or conversely, find it harder to focus when there isn’t enough going on around you
● actively seek particular experiences, such as music, movement, being outdoors or time alone, because they help you feel better
● have tried generally recommended wellbeing strategies and found that some simply don’t suit you
None of these experiences necessarily means there is a problem to fix. They can simply be clues to the sensory input you tend to notice, seek out or avoid, and how this may be influencing your everyday experiences.
Why do we respond so differently?
We’re constantly taking in information through our senses, but we don’t all notice or respond to that information in the same way.
Each of us has different sensory thresholds, which influence how readily we notice and respond to sensory input. Some people may notice particular sounds, smells, movement or other sensations very quickly, while others need more input before they register or respond to it.
These differences can help explain why one person enjoys working in a busy café while another finds it distracting, or why someone feels better after a quiet afternoon while another becomes restless and wants to get out and do something.
Understanding your own sensory preferences can give you a useful way of making sense of these differences. It isn’t about labelling certain responses as good or bad, but understanding what tends to work well for you and using that knowledge to your advantage.
It can also be a surprisingly illuminating way to understand what may be contributing to different habits and behaviours in those around us.
Turning insight into informed choices
Understanding your sensory preferences is useful, but the real value comes from knowing what to do with that information.
My approach, Total Sensory Wellbeing (TSW), looks more broadly at the sensory experiences that are part of everyday life, both through the activities you choose and the environments you spend time in.
Together, we can consider where your sensory preferences may be working well for you, where they may be contributing to unnecessary effort or discomfort, and what practical changes might be worth trying.
Sometimes that might mean changing something in your surroundings. At other times, it could be choosing a different activity, changing when or how you do something, or deliberately making more room for sensory experiences you know work well for you.
The aim isn’t to create a perfectly controlled environment or avoid everything you don’t enjoy. It’s to give you useful information you can apply realistically to how you want to live.
What you can gain
Depending on your sensory preferences and what you want to explore, you may gain:
Greater awareness of the activities and environments that tend to support or challenge you.
Insight into why you may respond differently from other people in the same situation.
Practical ideas for adjusting aspects of your surroundings, routines or activities.
Better understanding of how sensory differences may affect everyday life with the people around you.
A more informed way to make choice about what works welle around you.
How it works
1. Discover your sensory preferences
Complete the online Sensory Matrix™ assessment to understand how you tend to notice and respond to different types of sensory input.
2. Understand and explore your results
Your personalised report explains your sensory preferences and includes practical suggestions for activities, routines and strategies that may work well for you.
3. Apply the insights to your life
You can explore the recommendations independently or work with me to consider how they could be adapted to your particular circumstances, priorities and what you want to focus on.
Sensory Insights & Advice
Ideal for the self-starter.
You’ll recieve:
• Sensory Matrix™ assessment and report. Includes suggested activities and strategies
• Total Sensory Wellbeing guides. Practical sensory-based ideas for supporting energy, focus and relaxation through your home environment and daily activities
Choose a level of support that makes sense for you.
Sensory Insights & Consultation
Personalised support to apply your sensory insights to your life.
• Everything included in Sensory Insights
• One-to one consultation. Explore your results in relation to your particular circumstances, priorities and what you want to focus on
• Personalised recommendations. Identify practical ways to adapt and apply the insights to your activities, routines and environments
Sensory Insights, Consultation & Follow-up
Additional support to put your sensory insights into practice.
• Everything included in Sensory Insights + Consultation
• Follow-up consultation. Reconnect after you’ve had time to apply the recommendations and discuss what you’ve noticed
• Review and refinement. Determine what’s working and where further adjustments may be useful
Not sure what you need or want to discuss a group workshop?
Book a free 15-minute discovery call to explore which option makes sense for you.
What the Total Sensory Wellbeing approach can offer you
This is not about ‘fixing’ you. It’s about understanding your sensory preferences and using that knowledge to make choices that work better for you.
By understanding how sensory experiences may be influencing you, you can start to:
• Reduce unnecessary sources of stress or discomfort
• Support your energy in ways that work for you
• Better understand sensory differences in the people around you
• Learn to ‘Live MESSY’
Move • Eat • Sleep • Sunlight • Your way
Frequently Asked Questions
-
The Sensory Matrix™ is a science-based online assessment developed by Sensory Intelligence®. It measures your sensory thresholds across seven sensory systems: visual, auditory, touch, smell, taste, movement and multisensory processing. Your results show which types of sensory input are more likely to drain you, which support your energy and focus, and how your environment may influence your day-to-day wellbeing and relationships.
-
Not at all. This isn’t therapy, it’s about understanding your sensory preferences so you can thrive in your own environment. It’s useful whether you’re a busy parent, a stretched corporate professional, or an overstimulated creative. Basically, this is for anyone who wants to feel their best either personally or professionally.
-
This approach starts with external inputs, not internal narratives. You’ll learn how your specific surroundings and habits affect your nervous system and how small shifts can calm your body and brain. You will be able to apply this to your everyday routines and situations to improve your energy, focus and sense of calm on an ongoing basis.
-
Yes, if you choose Tier 1: Discover Your Sensory Profile, you can book a follow-up within 4 weeks for $200, or $250 thereafter.
A Quick Note on Fit
This work is best suited to people wanting practical, everyday ways to support their energy, focus and wellbeing through their sensory environments. It is not designed for diagnosis, therapy or medical treatment, and it won’t replace support from a health professional if you need one.