Grounding Techniques for Nature Lovers

“While I’m sipping herbal teas, verbal bees plant fertile seeds.” -RZA

Anxiety makes me feel like I’m riding shotgun with an air show pilot. Like I’m involved in aerobatic stunts of which I have no control. During anxious times, I need that pilot to chill out and land the plane. I literally need to be grounded. Grounding techniques help shift the focus away from my worries to the present moment. And I’ve found that grounding is most effective for me when I’m literally on the ground…outside surrounded by nature.

Grounding is also an effective preventative measure. Regular practice of grounding keeps me calm and counteracts my inclination toward spiraling out of control. These are three of my favorite ways to attune to the present moment through grounding.

Earthing

I actually just learned this term last year. Basically, it means being barefoot and I do that as much as possible. It is believed that the connection to our bare feet and the earth’s electrons boosts the immune system, improves sleep, and reduces stress. I don’t much about the earth’s electrons but I do know that when my feet come in contact with grass I’m transported to my childhood and a simpler, less anxious time of doing barefoot cartwheels in the front yard until I was dizzy. My ability to do cartwheels may not exactly be a present moment occurrence. But the joy that those memories create most certainly is.

5-4-3-2-1 Technique…Garden Style

The 5-4-3-2-1 technique consists of acknowledging five things you see; four things you can feel; three things you hear; two things you smell; and one thing you taste. This technique is helpful for people experiencing anxiety or panic attacks. It helps to bring your awareness to your physical surroundings and ground you in the present moment. I find that it is a helpful exercise to practice even when I don’t feel the pangs of anxiety. It’s a form of mindfulness I like to do outdoors. Today while outside I took a few moments to observe the following:

Sight: grass, a bird with a worm, flowers, bags of soil, and lettuce
Touch: grass beneath my feet, the breeze, raindrops, and soil on my hands
Sounds: birds, lawnmower, and a bus
Smell: wood chips and rain
Taste: chives (chive flowers fresh out of the garden are my recent favorite and weird snack)

Move Your Body

I tend to spend a lot of time in my head and that is sometimes a mysterious and frightening place to be. Physical movement is a good way to, as my friend says, “get back into your body.” When I'm unable to make it to the gym I have to find ways to intentionally move my body. When surrounded by nature, however, movement comes naturally. I bend to plant, swing the weed trimmer, lift heavy bags, and run with the dog. And feel grounded. And great.

There are many ways to bring awareness to the present moment and surroundings. It’s an added bonus when those surroundings and moments are filled with a bit of nature.

Categories: : Wellness