Do you often feel lost or overwhelmed even when you are blessed with all the basics of life? Did you know that grounding has many benefits that will allow you to feel calm, peaceful and centered?
If yes, then you are not alone, a recent survey data revealed that 78% of men and women feel unbalanced and disconnected. With everyday demands of work, family, and social commitments, finding a moment of peace at times is difficult and when this stretches to days, then weeks, and then months, it creates stress, anxiety, and depression.
I used to feel this way all the time until I discovered grounding. The practice of grounding and using various grounding techniques have transformed my life and helped me recenter and find peace within. In this blog, I’ll share my journey with grounding, backed by research and my personal experience, to help you understand how it can benefit you by turning off your unbalanced life and help you recenter and bring peace within.
I learned about grounding and various grounding techniques for mental health and its benefits on physical health when the constant rush of daily life left me anxious and exhausted.
One evening, while searching for natural ways to manage stress, I came across the concept of grounding. The first thing I learned about it was Grounding involves connecting with the earth’s surface by physically touching the ground. It sounded almost too simple to be effective, but I was in bad shape and was willing to try anything.
Before I share any further, let me share a few facts about grounding which i refer to as “the science behind grounding” that I explored to used in my life.
On reading various articles and books on grounding, grounding techniques, and its benefits, my curiosity to know the hidden science behind it grew.
So here is what I discovered using some trusted sources in my research
Grounding is based on the idea the earth has a lot of electrons on its surface, which are tiny electrical particles. Our bodies can naturally absorb these electrons, which may help our health. The study shows that a few decades earlier, everyone practiced grounding without knowing its utmost importance. During those days, outdoor life was richer, and on top of it, walking barefoot and touching the ground was a normal phenomenon unlike how we live today. Today, we spend less time outdoors and more time inside, and even if we are outside, we prefer to be in our luxury shoes all the time. So we don’t get as many of these electrons. As a result, our bodies can build up excess positive static charges that need to be balanced. Grounding, or connecting with the earth, helps us absorb negative electrons from the ground. This can help neutralize the extra positive charges in our bodies.
These electrons work like natural antioxidants, helping to fight harmful particles that can damage our health. When we get these electrons, we get sound sleep, any wounds will heal faster, and we will also experience reduced inflammation.
Honestly speaking, initially, I was skeptical about the grounding benefits and the effective grounding techniques, so before getting into it, I first looked into the scientific research behind grounding, and unbelievably, I found many studies showing its benefits.
I found a study published in the Journal of Environmental and Public Health about grounding that grounding not only improves sleep, and reduces pain, but also decreases stress levels and helps you stay calm in highly stressful situations. I then witnessed another study in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine that highlighted its potential to improve immune response and build a better immune system if grounding is practiced consistently.
One of the most interesting pieces of research I found was by Dr. Gaétan Chevalier, who showed that grounding can significantly reduce blood thickness, a major factor in heart disease. This suggested that grounding could have many health benefits beyond just stress reduction and general physical health benefits.
After all this research, and data reading, I was confident and with this knowledge, I decided to try grounding techniques for anxiety, and simple grounding exercises for stress.
I started my grounding practice by walking barefoot in my backyard for 20 minutes each day. At first, it felt strange, but as the days passed, I noticed small changes. My stress levels seemed to decrease, and I started to feel more connected to my surroundings.
The most astonishing was when I noticed my struggle with sleep disorders started to vanish. For the last 7 years, I was a victim of insomnia, and after practicing grounding for a couple of weeks, I found myself falling asleep faster and waking up refreshed the next morning. Grounding helped me achieve this big milestone which was enough to convince me that grounding can do miracles in our physical and mental health.
Encouraged by these initial results, I started exploring other grounding techniques and took action toward deepening my grounding practice to bring peace within and live a happy, content, and stress-free life.
I started spending more time outdoors, gardening, and lying on the grass. I also bought grounding products like mats and sheets, which are designed to provide the benefits of grounding indoors. These products connect to the Earth’s energy through grounding rods or electrical outlets, allowing you to stay grounded while sleeping or working.
One of my favourite grounding activities became meditating on the grass. When we meditate, we aim to recenter ourselves and wish to feel connected to self and our higher self, and trust me when you practice meditation on the grass or combine it with any grounding technique, you will achieve a deeper sense of calm and clarity. For me, this practice of grounding during meditation became a daily ritual, providing a much-needed break from the chaos of everyday life. The best part is it doesn’t separate me from my daily chores, instead, it fuels me with more energy, a better mindset, and more focus to play my part in the world of my responsibilities.
My anxiety, high stress of managing home and work and all the chaos in my everyday life don’t exist anymore. All that I needed was to connect with my root i.e. Earth and that’s what grounding helped me with. The results I achieved and the feelings I experienced are beyond any describing words.
Grounding has become an important tool in my mental health routine. The practice helps me stay present and mindful, reducing the constant stream of worries that used to fill my mind. I’ve noticed that on the days I take time to ground myself, I feel more centered and less reactive to stress.
Research supports this connection between grounding and mental health. A study published in the Psychological Reports journal has found that grounding can improve mood and reduce anxiety and depression. The study’s participants reported feeling more positive and less stressed after grounding sessions, which matches my own experiences.
Here’s how I practice grounding in daily life
Being a mom and a full-time working individual, I didn’t have much scope for a complete lifestyle change, so integrating grounding into daily life was not difficult as it doesn’t require a massive transformation in your daily routine. With simple changes, it made a big difference and I’m sure anyone can easily incorporate grounding without changing much in their lifestyle.. Here are some practical ways I incorporate grounding into my routine:
- Morning Grounding Walks: Starting the day with a barefoot walk in the garden sets a positive tone. It helps me feel connected to the earth and ready to face the day.
- Grounding During Work: Using a grounding mat under my desk keeps me grounded even during long work hours. This simple addition has helped reduce the stiffness and discomfort associated with prolonged sitting.
- Grounding in the Evening: My evening happens with a grounding meditation on the grass that helps me release the accumulated stress. This practice helps me to release all my stress and get a good night’s sleep.
- Weekend Outdoor Activities: Knowing so many benefits of grounding and how important it is in our lives; I encourage my family to practice grounding together during weekends. We spend leisure hours gardening or simply sitting on the ground with everyone for small chit-chats and at times reading books while sitting on the ground. We often go hiking together. These are enjoyable ways to incorporate grounding into leisure activities with family and friends during weekends.
How to overcome challenges
Like any new practice, grounding comes with its challenges. Weather conditions and urban living can make it difficult to connect with the earth regularly. However, I’ve found creative solutions to these obstacles. In the rainy season, we can use grounding mats to practice indoors. When we’re traveling, we can look for parks or green spaces to take off our shoes and ground for a few minutes.
“Sharing is caring” is what I strongly believe and so I started sharing my experiences of the incredible benefits of grounding.
As grounding became an important part of my life, I started sharing my experiences with friends and family. At first, they took it lightly and thought as not worthy, but in my words, they agreed to try it for themselves. Watching them experience the benefits firsthand was incredibly rewarding. My sister, who had migraines for years, realized that grounding has helped reduce the frequency and intensity of her headaches. One of my friends who I introduced grounding, noticed significant improvements in her anxiety levels. Grounding is gaining recognition and it has immediate results that people are experiencing. With its effective results and incredible benefits, soon grounding will become a common wellness practice, much like yoga and meditation.
I strongly believe that grounding is a must in everyone’s routine who values healthy living.
To conclude, I would say, “As grounding has been a transformative practice for me, helping me recenter and find peace in the midst of life’s chaos, I am confident, it can help you too.” By grounding ourselves, we can reconnect with the natural world and unlock a wealth of health benefits because our bodies are designed to be in harmony with the earth, and none other than grounding is one of the best ways to restore our connection. So kick off your shoes, step outside, and let the earth work its magic. Your journey to balance and well-being starts here.
If you’ve made it to the end of this post on grounding, it shows that you’re proactive about your health. Take the opportunity to read another healing blog to learn more about unblocking your body energies by understanding your blocked Chakras.
References
- Journal of Environmental and Public Health about grounding that grounding not only improves sleep, and reduces pain, but also decreases stress levels and helps you stay calm in highly stressful situations. – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10105020/
- Dr. Gaétan Chevalier, who showed that grounding can significantly reduce blood thickness, a major factor in heart disease. This suggested that grounding could have many health benefits beyond just stress reduction and general physical health benefits. – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3576907/
- A study published in the Psychological Reports journal has found that grounding can improve mood and reduce anxiety and depression. – https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=51326
- A study in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine that highlighted its potential to improve immune response and build a better immune system if grounding is practiced consistently. – https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/10/3/581
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