Feeling stressed and scattered right now? Stop what you’re doing and read on. It’s time to find a few minutes of inner peace and grounding to recalibrate your mind, body and spirit. Here are three simple and effective techniques you can try now:
Take a deep breath and exhale stress away
When life throws a curveball your way, it’s easy to get swept up in whirlwind of anxiety and tension. But guess what? You hold the key to unlock calmness within. It starts with your breath. Deep breathing is one of the simplest yet most effective grounding technique.
How do you do it? Find a comfortable spot for a few minutes, even 5 minutes will help. Take a seat or stand tall. Close your eyes if it feels right. Now, inhale deeply through your nose, filling your lungs like a balloon. Feel your abdomen rise and expand with every breath. Hold it for a few seconds, and then release your breath, all the stress and worries as you exhale slowly through your mouth.
Why does it work? Deep breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting relaxation and reducing stress. In fact, Harvard Medical School recently recommended during the pandemic that regular deep breathing can help manage anxiety and improve your overall well-being.
Put on your best smile. Your soul will thank you.
Smiling may seem really simple but it has a profound impact on your emotional state. According to Psychology Today, research suggests that smiling triggers the release of feel-good neurotransmitters like dopamine, endorphins and serotonin, lifting your mood and reducing stress levels. Check out the many incredible health benefits associated with giving off an authentic smile here.
Get moving and feel the earth beneath your feet.
When you engage in any kind of physical activity, it helps release pent-up energy, improves circulation and boosts your overall vitality. Studies have also shown daily physical activity improves balance, coordination, metabolism, overall health and sleep.
It’s time to pick an activity and get moving! It could be as simple as a brisk daily walk, climbing some stairs, doing some light exercises like yoga or tai chi or anything else. Just do it, beginning now. Break the mental pattern of stress by dropping everything troubling your mind and just go for a brisk five-minute walk.
BONUS Tip:
So, here’s where the real magic happens – combine all three techniques into one glorious grounding ritual! Find a serene spot outdoors. Take those deep breaths and feel your worries melt away with every exhale. As you do this, put on your best, biggest smile and embrace the beauty of nature around you. Then, let your body flow and move with the rhythm of the great outdoors. Feel the grass beneath your bare feet, the wind brushing against your skin, the warmth of the sun, and let the earth’s energy envelop you as you begin walking in nature’s playground.
By doing all three practices outdoors, you’re amplifying their effects
and immersing yourself in the rejuvenating power of nature and reigniting your innate sense of balance. You’re tapping into the essence of being grounded: feeling connected to yourself, to others and to the earth.
To summarize, you don’t need to live each day stressed out. It takes just a few minutes each day to ground yourself. You can find instant solace by taking deep breaths, smiling and moving your body outdoors. Make it a daily habit and watch how you begin to live in balance each day with the universe, just as nature intended.
Looking for more quick grounding tips? Check out my book, The Little Book of Grounding: 75+ simple ways to restore balance to your mind, body, spirit using ancient Ayurvedic teachings for today’s world. Buy it on Amazon now.