This half-term, we’re thinking all about our own mental wellbeing and mindfulness.
To kick this off, this week’s thought for the week is more of an activity for the week! Have a go at this Five Senses exercise and think about: how do you feel, how does this activity affect your feelings and wellbeing?
Notice five things that you can see 👁️
Cast your eyes around and bring your attention to five things you might not normally notice. Choose something you wouldn’t ordinarily pay attention to, like a shadow or a small crack in the concrete.
Notice four things that you can feel 🖐️
Bring your awareness to four things you are currently feeling, like the texture of your clothes, the feeling of the breeze on your skin, or the smooth surface of a table you are resting your hands on.
Notice three things that you can hear 👂
Try to tune in to the sounds of your surroundings. What can you hear in the background? This might be a bird singing, the low hum of the computer, or the faint sounds of traffic from a nearby road.
Notice two things that you can smell 👃
Tune your senses into smells you might usually gloss over, whether they’re pleasant or unpleasant. Perhaps the breeze is carrying the scent of trees if you’re outside, or the smell of the food from the kitchen.Notice one thing that you can taste 👄
Focus on one thing you can taste right now, in this moment. You can take a sip of your drink, savor some food, eat something nice, notice the current taste in your mouth, or even open it to search the air for a taste.