Grounding is a word that most of us have heard of, but what does it actually mean?
The best way to explain it is that when we are not grounded, we might be anxious, preoccupied, or disconnected from ourselves.
Grounding is a way to refocus on the present moment and get our minds off of anxious thoughts. When we ground ourselves, we root ourselves into our bodies. Think about how a tree is rooted firmly into the ground. When we are ungrounded, we are all a little bit frantic and chaotic. When we are grounded, we usually feel more solid and connected.
None of us are immune to what’s happening in the world.
I am a therapist and just like everyone else, the last 18 months have been extremely anxiety-producing and for good reason. I have had to engage in more grounding activities over the last 6 months than I have had to in a long time.
Trauma is defined as something that is potentially life-threatening, and generally something that causes feelings of powerlessness.
We are all experiencing something that was completely unexpected, and we only have so much control over what is happening around us.
Grounding activities are usually activities that engage one of the 5 senses: sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell.
Here are 50 things that other moms are doing to ground themselves:
- Cuddling on the couch
2. Time to yourself
3. Movement
4. Go for a run/walk
5. Yoga session
6. Using your favorite chapstick
7. Using your favorite lotion
8. A bowl of warm soup
9. Hot tea
10. A refreshing drink/smoothie
11. Meditation apps
12. A lavender roll (you can warm it in the microwave)
13. Watching your favorite episode of a show
14. Nostalgic music
15. Hot bath
16. Car ride
17. A good cry
18. A to-do list
19. Writing in your planner
20. Set a ten-minute timer to have time to yourself
21. Paying close attention to your breathing
22. Sex
23. Sitting in the sun
24. Make a gratitude list
25. Go to a support group
26. Baking
27. Create something
28. Have a long conversation with a close friend
29. A bike ride
30. Look at your favorite pictures or videos
31. Be near animals
32. Use an oil diffuser
33. Laugh at something
34. Reading a book or magazine
35. Sort clothes
36. Clean or organize
37. Watch something funny
38. Eat hard candy
39. Use a phrase that anchors you like, “I am taking good care of myself.”
40. Visualize yourself at a soothing place (the beach, mountains, in nature)
41. Water plants
42. Swim
43. Spend 5 minutes breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth
44. Chew gum
45. Put on music and dance or sing
46. Play with playdough
47. Draw or paint
48. Walk your dog
50. Play an instrument