Sensory Strategies
This activity involves focusing on your breath and is a great way to reset your nervous system
What is deep breathing?
This type of chart or digital tool helps you visually organize what you want to do over the weekend.
What is schedule or planner?
This activity involves using markers, pens, or paints and is a great way to relax and express yourself.
What is adult coloring?
Watching your favorite funny show or movie is an example of this kind of coping strategy.
What is distraction?
This chore helps keep your space clean and is often expected before having friends over.
What is clean your room?
Weighted blankets and pressure vests provide this kind of sensory input to help calm the body.
What is deep pressure or proprioceptive input
Breaking a big task into smaller steps is called this and can help reduce stress.
What is chunking?
Squeezing, stretching, or squishing this fun substance is a great way to calm your hands and brain.
What is a stress ball, putty or slime?
Playing video games, reading, or drawing can all help give your brain a break from this.
What is distraction or negative emotions?
If you have a test or big project coming up, you might need to spend time doing this.
What is studying or doing homework?
This calming activity involves stretching and holding poses, and is often done on a mat.
What is yoga?
Prioritizing tasks using categories like “Must Do,” “Should Do,” and “Could Do” is a form of this.
What is prioritizing or task management?
Watching fish swim in a tank or looking at a lava lamp provides this type of calming visual experience.
What is visual stimulation?
This type of music can lift your mood when you're feeling down.
What is happy music or upbeat music?
This basic task helps you prepare for the week ahead and keeps you from running out of clean socks.
What is doing the laundry?
Listening to soft music or nature sounds helps regulate this sensory system.
What is auditory?
Taking a 10-minute movement or sensory break between tasks helps you do this to your brain and body.
What is regulate or reset?
Journaling your feelings or writing poetry helps process emotions and regulate this internal system.
What is emotional regulation?
Baking cookies, painting your nails, or organizing your room are examples of this type of activity.
What are leisure or want to do activities
Whether it’s walking the dog, babysitting, or mowing the lawn, these are called this.
What are responsibilities or chores?
Spending time in a dimly lit room with soothing visuals, like a lava lamp, can calm this sensory input.
What is visual?
Planning out your sensory strategies before the weekend starts is an example of this helpful habit.
What is proactive or planning ahead
Running, dancing, and swimming all help regulate this system that senses movement and balance.
What is vestibular system?
Going outside to walk or sit in nature uses this type of distraction that engages all your senses.
What is grounding?
Reviewing your calendar and setting goals for the week is part of doing this to stay organized.
What is planning ahead or time management