What Is a Sensory Lifestyle? A Guide to Daily Sensory Wellness

Understanding the concept of a sensory lifestyle

A sensory lifestyle is all about creating daily routines and environments that support how a person processes sensory input.
It's not just for kids with sensory processing disorder (SPD), though that's where the concept started. Adults, teens, neurodiverse folks — everyone can benefit from it.

Basically, your body and brain are constantly reacting to what you see, hear, touch, smell, and move through.
If your sensory system gets too overwhelmed or too under-stimulated, it throws everything off: focus, emotions, sleep, even digestion.

A sensory lifestyle helps keep that sensory balance in check. It’s kinda like a workout plan, but for your nervous system.

Who benefits from a sensory lifestyle?

Children with sensory needs (and their caregivers)

Occupational therapists often create sensory diet plans for children with autism, ADHD, or SPD. These plans include activities that help kids regulate — like jumping, swinging, chewing, or deep pressure.

Example: A 6-year-old who melts down at noisy cafeterias might benefit from quiet time before lunch + noise-canceling headphones + chewy snack = more calm, less chaos.

Adults dealing with burnout or anxiety

Sensory regulation isn’t just a kid thing. Many adults feel emotionally off but don’t realize it’s sensory overload (or underload).
Too much screen time, constant noise, no grounding moments — it adds up.

Adding simple sensory breaks (like walking barefoot in grass or doing 5 minutes of deep breathing with lavender oil) can seriously help rebalance your system.

What does a sensory lifestyle actually look like?

It’s not a strict schedule — it’s a rhythm

A sensory lifestyle doesn’t mean you need to schedule brushing therapy at 7 a.m. and a swing session at 9.
Instead, it’s about weaving sensory-rich experiences into your regular day.

Think:

• Morning: Wake up and stretch with calming music (auditory + proprioceptive input)

• Midday: Bounce on a yoga ball while working or take a walk after lunch

• Evening: Weighted blanket + warm bath = nervous system saying “thank youuu”

Sensory input types to include

A balanced sensory lifestyle touches on multiple senses:

• Tactile: touching textures, holding fidgets, getting messy with clay or sand

• Proprioceptive: heavy work like pushing, pulling, jumping — great for calming

• Vestibular: movement-based, like swinging, spinning, or even dancing

• Auditory: using sound intentionally (not just letting chaos happen)

• Visual: controlling light, color, clutter

• Olfactory/gustatory: using smell and taste to either wake up or calm down

Tips to start building your own sensory lifestyle

Step 1: Identify your (or your child’s) patterns

Ask stuff like:

• When do I feel overwhelmed during the day?

• What helps me feel grounded or energized?

• Do I need more movement, or more quiet?

Start tracking. Even a simple journal or notes app works.

Step 2: Add one sensory tool or habit at a time

Don’t try to change your whole routine overnight. Pick one tiny thing:

• Add a 3-minute hand massage during lunch

• Use peppermint oil on your wrists before meetings

• Swap background noise for nature sounds

Then build from there.

Final thoughts: it’s about tuning in, not tuning out

A sensory lifestyle isn’t a trend or a one-size-fits-all fix.
It’s a way to reconnect with your body, support your brain, and make daily life smoother — especially if the world feels a little too much sometimes.

And yeah, it might sound odd at first — bouncing on a ball or sniffing essential oils at your desk? But hey, if it works... who cares?

Start small. Get curious. Your senses will thank you.

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.