Updated: Feb 14
If you are a client of mine, you have definitely heard me tout the merits of grounding. There is not a single person I work with who doesn't have a need for it. Stressed? Anxious? Depressed? Exhausted? Learning how to ground is an imperative tool for you.
So, what is grounding? It is a self-soothing technique that brings you back to earth, helps to stop racing thoughts and calms the sympathetic nervous system. It creates a foundation of stability where before there was none.
There are many methods to ground oneself. Here are a few that I teach my clients:
The act of earthing is a popular grounding technique these days. Earthing is when one stands on soil or grass while barefoot, connecting to the earth in a literal way. There are also earthing mats that you can buy, but I didn't feel much connection through those personally.
Go and sit outside and just let yourself be in nature and observing her all around you with each of your senses. Listen to the birds singing, look up at the the clouds in the sky, feel the wind or sun on your skin, smell the air that surrounds you. That is it! Just sit, observe and be.
You can also try an embodiment exercise, wherein which you scan your body slowly from head to toe, bringing your mind into the present and into your being.
Gardening is a great way to connect with the earth - water your plants and spend that time just focusing on them and not on the worries of your day.
Go for short walks around the block in between meetings or projects. Even five minutes a couple of times a day can help to calm a frenzied mind.
Listen to a guided meditation for grounding. All you have to do is sit there and take it in - minimal work on your part.
The ways that you reconnect your mind into your body are not complex but they only work if you utilize them. Start with five minutes once a week and see how that feels. You can build upon it and maybe you do five minutes three times a week - and, eventually, every morning before work.
If you can take the time to ground yourself before you start your day (the key is to do it before you enter into a stressful moment), then you will approach your stressors from a calmer place.
What to do if the anxiety inducing scenarios have your mind and heart racing again? Ground back into your body. There are more tools than this - you can shield yourself from stressful situations, cleanse yourself after a stressful day. If you want to learn more about all of these, check out my class - Survival Tools to Avoid Burnout, which goes more in depth into grounding and also teaches cleansing and shielding.