5 Ways to Ground Yourself { When You Are Feeling Anxious }
There is nothing like being at the beach holding your flip-flops squeezing your toes in the sand, breathing in the fresh salt water air, and taking in the sounds of birds and children playing. It's an amazing feeling. You are fully connected to the present moment. No where else to be except right here. This is what being grounded is.
And it's an amazing feeling. But if you are like me living in a city, it is hard to call in that beach feeling in the middle of the year when you have a pile of things to get done and not enough time. This feeling makes us feel outside our bodies. Ungrounded.
We all have times when we feel grounded, like we are at home but this often won't last so we need to actively create this on our own and in our own way. And we can and it's easy! Just a little bit of intention behind your effort!
I want to share some quick ways for your recharge your energy, clear your mind and calm your heart. But first...
...Signs you are ungrounded:
- easily distracted
- over-think
- ruminate
- experience anxiety
- possessed by material desires
- obsessed with personal appearance
- fatigued
- poor sleep
- chronic pain
- inflammation
How to ground:
1. Exercise. There is nothing more important than moving your body and better to do it outdoors than anywhere else. But move your body is the most important. Walk, run, bike, walk/run, unicycle...
2. Stand still. Conjure up being like a tree and feel your feet. Literally stand still for up to 10 minutes. Really win that urge to move. Pay attention to the sensations in and around your feet. Where do you really have to be that you cannot stand still for 10 minutes to connect to you? Make you a priority.
3. Take a cold shower. Yes. Take your regular shower but then for the last 1-2 minutes, make the water really cold. This is good for weight loss but will invigorate your body leaving you feeling calm and energized at the same time.
4. Meditate. Follow your breath: inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale. Count to 4 as you inhale and 4 as you exhale. Sit still starting with just 3 minutes a day and then after a few days, add on another minute and then add more until you make it up to 20 minutes. Take your time. Make this accessible to you and where you are.
5. Roll around on the ground. Yes, do that. Preferably outside. Summertime is a perfect time to lay around for up to 30 minutes to an hour. Connect to the grass, the dirt, the ants, etc. You can also do this in your own home, get down on the floor. But you want to make sure you are as close to the ground as possible so in your basement is ideal. If you live in the city, go to a park.
Also, let go of excuses. There are plenty.
In order to see change, you need to do things that are uncomfortable.
Namaste.