A lot has happened and is still happening in the world. Yet people are going through one personal struggle or another. That’s enough to throw anyone off their center and see the world through a negative lens. Ground yourself and find balance to make your way back to optimal performance.
It’s easy to assume that working from home takes away some of the stress. On the contrary, a 2017 study by European Foundation found that remote workers generally experience more stress than those who go to the office. Furthermore, Zen Business conducted a recent study and found out that people who worked 100% remotely experienced the highest workplace anxiety on average.
Don’t hang on too tight to the stats, though. It doesn’t mean working remotely causes anxiety. Some participants of the study might already be dealing with it or isolation could have triggered it. Whatever the case, whether you’re having issues working from home or not, grounding practices will benefit you. As you continue reading, you’ll find out everything you need to know about grounding yourself. Finally, you’ll learn techniques you can try out today.
What is Grounding?
Grounding, or earthing, is a practice that helps you connect energetically to the earth. This lets you be in the present moment, receive nourishment from the earth, and be more authentically in your body. When you’re grounded, you can easily identify your talents, know their value to the world, and be more disposed to use them. This is how Marylin O’Malley, a certified Tapping into Wealth & Success Coach defines it. Feeling stressed, spacey, easily distracted, anxious, your mind in chaos are all symptoms of being ungrounded.
How Can Grounding Benefit You?
There aren’t many studies on the benefits of grounding. However, few have been done that approve its efficacy.
Reduces Stress Levels
As you know, work-related stress is commonplace and as you read above, it’s salient among remote workers. Cortisol levels spike when you’re stressed, and this affects your blood sugar, metabolism, and memory formulation. A study shows that when you’re grounded, your cortisol level normalizes. That’s not all; participants of that study reported that they sleep better with fewer disturbances and wake up feeling refreshed.
Improves Blood Circulation
Anywhere blood goes, energy flows. Grounding promotes blood flow through your body, delivering oxygen and vital nutrients. A half-hour practice showed an increase in blood flow to the face.
Improves Mood
A study of 40 participants where some were grounded, and others in a control group, showed an improvement in the mood of those grounded after one hour on four mood scales.
Reduces Chronic Fatigue and Pain
In a study, participants reported that their fatigue levels dropped after four weeks of using a grounding mat.
Another study on exercise recovery showed that participants who used grounding patches reported lesser muscle pains than those who didn’t use them.
Grounding Techniques to Help You Reconnect
You know what grounding is and what it can do for you. Now is the time to learn how to ground yourself to reap the benefits.
Physical
These techniques help you feel your physical and energetic bodies. They use your senses to bring awareness within yourself.
1. Move Your Body
It doesn’t need to be a full-blown workout. Small exercises and stretching are what you need for grounding. The aim is for you to be present with what you’re doing. If you’re jumping rope, feel your feet hit the floor, hear the swirl of the rope, notice your breath, and your heart pounding. If you don’t want quick movements, yoga is right up this alley. It’ll help you stretch and keep awareness in your body.
2. Feel Your Inner Body
Find a comfortable position and bring your awareness into your body. Feel the energy coursing through you from head to toe. Aside from the grounding effect, this practice also gives you vitality. According to Ekhart Tolle, in his book, The Power of Now, doing this has healing benefits.
3. Use the 5-4-3-2-1 Method
This technique engages all your senses. It involves identifying and interacting with things around you. Notice 5 things you can see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, 1 thing you can taste. You can do them with whatever senses suit you in any order. Try to go for the littlest things you might previously take for granted. You could try feeling your heartbeat or hear the hum of the refrigerator.
4. Breathe
Of course, you’ve been breathing. However, this time, pay attention to it. Feel the air go in your nostrils through its path to your diaphragm. Notice your tummy rise, then pay attention as air journeys back out and your tummy deflates.
Mental
Exercises that use mental efforts to take your awareness away from negative thoughts and into the present.
5. Category Thinking
Have fun with yourself by thinking in categories. Pick any broad category and mention as many things under it as you can. For instance, “ice cream flavors”, “car brand”, “colors”, whatever toots your horn. This exercise won’t take more than a minute or two.
6. Recite Something You Like
This could be a song, poem, or even nursery rhymes. Just make sure it’s something that brings good feelings. Make this exercise deeper by visualizing the words in your head. If you’re reciting out loud, feel the movement of your lips as you speak the words.
7. Relax and Release
This is an exercise I use. If you have recurring thoughts you don’t like or a disturbing feeling, feel yourself relax and visualize releasing the inconvenience. Imagine opening a door in your abdomen and watching the disturbance flow out. When you’re satisfied, close the door and feel the relief. That’s it!
8. Test Your Memory
Find a detailed picture, such as a city view. Stare at it for up to 10 seconds, then turn the picture away. Try to name the things you can remember from the picture.
Soothing
Are you feeling anxiety, stress, or depression? These exercises will help soothe your feelings and raise your mood.
9. List Your Favorite Things
Mention three categories and list some of your favorite things under each. For instance, “ice cream”, you can mention your favorite flavors. If you want to take it further, remember the fun time you took each of the flavors.
10. Listen to Music
Music has a way of boosting one’s mood. Play your favorite music or playlist and dance if you want to. The aim is to feel better, and dancing does just that.
11. Express Kindness to Yourself
Sit with the sole of your feet on the floor and imagine connecting with the earth. Come up with phrases that speak positively to what’s causing you stress or anxiety. Repeat the phrase and visualize things working out in your favor.
Grounding Will Help You Perform Better WFH
When you’re grounded, you’ll feel vitality in your body. You’ll have the will and energy to chase your goals and bring value to your work. This effect will also cascade to other areas of your life and you’d be better for it. So, which of the techniques will you try first?
