Large areas and spaces

With someone accompanying you, move slowly through your house and ask yourself:

• What textures am I feeling under my feet? For example, the carpet in the living room will feel very different from the ceramic tiles in the bathroom, and the linoleum in the kitchen.
• What textures do I feel on surfaces?

Are you using your remaining vision to further confirm what your other senses are telling you?

Small Objects

You can begin to increase your tactual sensitivities by holding and exploring almost any tangible object in your home. You might find it easier to start with something small and easy to hold, such as a shaver with a protective cover. (But, as with any electrical item, make sure it's unplugged!)

Hold the shaver in your hand. Can you tell which side is the top, the bottom, the back, the front? Do you notice any ripples, buttons, or groves on the shaver case? Do they lead your fingers to a latch or a way to remove the cover, the mesh screen, etc.? Can you find the holes for plugging in the shaver to its power source? Does it have a trimmer feature? Can you find it by touch? What parts are metal, what parts are plastic? Does the shaver have brushes or bristles, any rubber or other distinctive features?

Other items to explore may include an alarm clock, a radio, an unplugged toaster or toaster oven, etc.

You might also take a collection of items in the house and identify as many as possible by touch.

Most homes have a junk drawer, and this may be a good place to start. Sort the pens, pencils, twist ties, string, and key fobs from each other, and you've started on the road to increasing your tactile sensitivity and to good organization. Remember good organization is an important part of managing your home!

You can repeat similar exercises with numerous items around the house.

Related Topics:

• Maximize Your Sense of Hearing
• Maximize Your Sense of Smell