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Coping with Voting

Posted on by Marieta du Toit

Voting day is upon us!

 

For all South Africans eligible to vote (i.e. older than 18 and in possession of an ID book/card), 8 May 2019 is a very important date.  This is the day when you have a political voice as you get to choose your homeland’s future as one of the 26 736 793 (read carefully now!!) registered voters for our sixth general election since 1994.  One of our most fundamental rights as citizens will be exercised and we should all be very excited about this prospect.

 

Having said that, my personal excitement wanes somewhat when I consider the ins-and-outs of the voting procedure and process:

  • Wake up early on a public holiday;
  • Drive to your voting station, which in my case is a small community hall with limited space;
  • In all probability, park a few blocks away from the voting station and set off on foot;
  • Stand in a queue with (often) limited personal space;
  • Try to remain calm while there’s constant noise around you;
  • When you finally reach the inside of the building, you squeeze in behind a cardboard box, try to locate the lucky candidate who’s getting your vote on the busy voting ballot and draw your X in the appropriate block;
  • On the way out (you are sprinting at this stage) you desperately try to avoid a talkative neighbour who’s patiently waiting their turn;
  • As you reach your car, it becomes clear that you’ve been parked in (because you were there EARLY) and will have to wait for your co-voters’ return.

 

Sounds like fun, doesn’t it?!?

No use considering NOT to vote… it is your right!!!

But let’s consider a few sensory strategies to ease the experience.

 

WHY SENSORY STRATEGIES?
Because we all react in a unique way to our environment based on our sensory thresholds. Individuals will cope differently with various amounts of sensory input (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch, movement and body position). Some people seek more sensory input (brighter, louder, stronger smells, more spicy tastes, tickles & hugs, faster) while others prefer less sensory input (natural colours, softer, odourless, milder food, less- or firm hugs, slower). Supplying our nervous system with the right input, enhances harmony and a relaxed state-of-mind… as is needed on 8 May!

 

We have a few general strategies up our sleeve, to ensure you (and your nervous system) remain regulated during voting day: you need to focus when drawing that X!!! These strategies are universal “self-regulation” strategies and can be used by all:

  1. BREATHE
    Deep breathing is one of the fastest, easiest ways to de-stress.  Follow the outline of your fingers with your other hand’s index finger, pretending to trace it: breathe IN when drawing up towards the fingertip, breathe OUT when drawing away from the fingertip.
  2. SUCK
    Always have a water bottle at hand. Water is essential for our bodies and minds. Using a spouted bottle is the absolute best, as the sucking action will calm your nervous system even more.
  3. FIDDLE
    Take your stress ball with to the voting station or fiddle with your car keys.
  4. MOVE
    Moving your body is one of the easiest ways to de-stress. Stamp your feet to the rhythm of music playing through your headphones. Stretch your neck- and calf muscles while standing in queue. Sway from side-to-side if you start feeling stressed.
  5. CARRY A BACKPACK
    Applying deep pressure is calming and relaxing for our nervous systems. Fill your backpack with a water bottle and go voting with added deep pressure on your back and shoulders.
  6. SNACK ON HEALTHY FOOD
    Take along biltong, raw apple/carrots and chewing gum. Chewing will provide more deep pressure and keep the hunger pains away.
  7. HEADPHONES
    If you don’t enjoy making small talk, put your headphones on. Also, if you’re sensitive to sounds, headphones can drown out environmental noise.
  8. COMFORTABLE CLOTHING
    Choose your voting outfit well. Choose comfortable shoes and clothes that you enjoy wearing. Remember a warm jacket, just in case the queue is very long.
  9. YOUR OWN PEN
    An easy way to ensure things run smoothly on voting day, is to have your own black pen at hand. The person who’s in front of you in line might just have the sniffles.
  10. HAVE SOMETHING TO EAT BEFORE YOU GO
    Don’t go voting on an empty stomach!
  11. SUNGLASSES & SUNSCREEN OR UMBRELLA
    You might end up standing outside for a long time. Take your sunglasses and sunscreen or an umbrella with you.
There’s no reason to dread voting day … have your say … your way!
See you in the queue!

 

To find out what your unique sensory needs and strategies are, complete a Sensory Matrix™ and create even more harmony in your own life.

 

Sensory guidelines to choosing your 2023 diary

Posted on by Annemarie Lombard

Last week I came to the shocking realisation that I already need a diary for 2023.  After a few minutes of contemplating how time flies, I made a plan to go to the mall after work.  I decided to visit the stationary store to take a look at their options for a 2019 diary.  I soon realised that the choices were overwhelming, prices ranging from R90 – R590, sizes from “fit in your pocket” to “you need a backpack for this one”, different colours, shapes, formats… I felt overwhelmed just by looking at the rack!

This is when I realised my sensory assess could help me to make a choice.  I am a “root” – this means I have low sensory thresholds and too much information overwhelms me  (but I think you noticed that from above!).  I was very grateful to know my own sensory assess well enough to make sense of what was happening in trying to choose a diary.  So I came up with the following guidelines on how to choose the best diary for yourself for 2019:

THE COVER:
Diary covers come in all colours and patterns.  Some are plain with limited text, others are a mixture of beautiful patterns and colours on the front and back, and you even get ones with specific themes like “Little Prince” or “Disney” on them.  I soon realised it is very important to take your visual threshold into account – no matter how much you may like a certain pattern or theme, you need to remember that you will most likely use this diary EVERY DAY for the next year.

  • If you are easily overwhelmed by visual stimuli, like me, you might opt for something with an organised pattern, or a clear colour with limited print on the front.
  • If you love bright colours and wild shapes, you need to remember that you also most likely enjoy nuance and change and that you might grow bored if you choose something too bold.

The best is to pick up the diary, spend some time looking at the cover, and feel what happens in your body.  If you feel excited and ready for the year when you look at the cover, then YES!  If you feel overwhelmed and like there is just ‘too much to do’ when you look at the cover, then maybe another colour and pattern will suit you better.

THE INSIDE:
When looking at the inside of a diary, we also want to take our visual threshold into account.

  • For myself, due to my low threshold, I need a diary that has only one day on a page and the times are clearly marked.  If there is more than one day on a page, the information appears ‘too much’ and I struggle to make sense of what needs to happen in the day.  I also like a diary that has a year planner at the front so I can see everything that needs to happen laid out in one place.
  • If you have a high visual threshold, you might enjoy a format of having more than one day on a page, or even having pictures, motivational quotes and extra information on your page.

Your preference has nothing to do with how busy you are or your cognitive capacity to do a lot.  It simply relates to how much visual information your brain can process at a time.  By choosing the best option, you will free your brain up to do more important work in the day, rather than spend valuable energy trying to decipher your diary. ‘

THE “PICK-UP TEST”:
I soon realised that it’s very important to pick up a diary.  If like me, your diary goes with you to work, to clients and home again it means you have to carry it around all day so you might want to opt for a lighter diary.  The weight is dependent on your body’s ability to carry around additional weight.

  • If it is too heavy, you will become irritated, annoyed and create tension in your shoulders and neck.
  • If you aren’t bothered by extra weight, or you plan not to carry your diary around, you can opt for a bigger size like an A4 or a heavier diary.

It is important to pick up the diary and perhaps even walk around with it a bit.  Are you aware of the weight?  Maybe something lighter will do.  If you are NOT aware of the extra weight, then this might be the one for you!

HAVE FUN!:
This last tip I included because choosing a diary seems like very serious business indeed.  But this is just a quick reminder to have fun!  Choosing a diary needs to get you excited for the year ahead, with all the new adventures it might bring!

Tell us how you chose your diary and what you learned about yourself in the process.  We would love to hear from you!

Want to find out more about your own sensory thresholds and what specific sensory tips and tools would work for you? Click here to do our free Sensory Quiz™ for a short summary of your assessment.  For a comprehensive 26-page report, buy the Sensory Matrix™ online.  You will be amazed at the results!

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