GROUNDED People of All Ages Can Ward Off​Anxiety through Grounding​

Most of us know two definitions for being grounded. One is the punishment—being restricted from going out and doing things you like to do as a consequence for misbehaving. The other is to be grounded, fastened to the earth in the present; not untethered and flying in all directions. It is this second, positive meaning that we are exploring today. It is strange, however, that in this pandemic era, we all feel as if we have been grounded in the negative sense. And part of our angst is that we feel that we have been grounded quite unfairly. By a virus, of all things!
However, in order to ward off the frequent feelings of stress and worry, we can turn to techniques that help us to get grounded in the GOOD sense.


The techniques shared here have been collected from an article published by Romper, www.romper.com. Their online ideas are aimed at young parents, and if you are not a millennial (born between 1981 and 1996), you may want to spend some time looking around at their website to gain a greater understanding of millennial ways of thinking. Most of our readers are members of older age groups like Gen X, Boomers, and Silent Generation. You just might find it fascinating, and perhaps rather surprising.
Eight ways to get grounded, whether you are two or ninety-two.
Get up and away from your desk or computer and spend just a few brief moments to engage in a few of these simple activities. Parents/caregivers can join in and participate along with young children.


Squeeze a stress ball or toss it gently from hand to hand. Focus on the feeling.


Imagine you have roots and reach into the ground to become firmly planted.


Stretch. Slowly fold yourself forward and unfold. Reach for the sky to touch a cloud.


Name the things in your surroundings, speaking gently . . . book, spoon, plant, etc.


Breathe in a very controlled way for a full minute. Suck in your stomach, then let it expand.


Go for a very slow walk outdoors or down the hall, thinking of how you place each foot.


Count. Perhaps it could be sheep in your imagination or plants in your yard.


Keep a few special (but not expensive) objects in a small fabric bag to touch (a stone, a clip). It is your “grounding kit.”
Before we sign off, here is another resource to help you understand the importance of grounding as you deal with anxious moments during this perplexing pandemic. Enjoy being in the moment. Get GROUNDED . . . in a good way.


Resources: 

• https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-17987/why-grounding-is-difficult-for-highly-sensitive-people-what-to-do-about-it.html
• https://www.romper.com/p/8-grounding-techniques-for-kids-with-anxiety-that-parents-may-benefit-from-too-32325664

CLICK on the links above to visit and read the articles. 


Submitted by Greta Nagel
President and CEO