Do you sometimes feel so overwhelmed that your head starts spinning and you’re so unsure what to do that you become paralyzed? It’s a bad place to be. Fortunately, holistic approaches can help you ground yourself and continue moving forward. Read on Holistic Ways to Stay Grounded When Life Is Hectic.
What can you do to get your mind and body back on track? Here are eight holistic ways to stay grounded when life gets hectic.
Holistic Ways to Stay Grounded When Life Is Hectic
What Does It Mean to Stay Grounded?
It’s tempting to throw “staying grounded” into the “you’ll know it when you feel it” category. The phrase itself is a metaphor. It means to have your feet on the earth, to feel stable. In the mental realm, it means not getting so caught up in future fears or past ruminations that you lose sight of the reality in front of you.
It all boils down to emotional regulation, or the ability to use healthy techniques to deal with difficult or unstable feelings. Sadly, no one gives humans a user manual. However, sages, mystics, doctors, psychologists and wise folks throughout history have developed specific techniques to ground you back here on earth when the storm inside you sends you for a swirling cyclone ride.
8 Holistic Ways to Stay Grounded
Here are eight proven holistic techniques to stay grounded when you feel lost and adrift. Pick a few of your favorites and practice them daily. Using these techniques for the first time amid an emotional storm is akin to running a marathon without training. However, these methods work — if you work them.
1. Meditate
Meditation might look like doing nothing, but it’s a lot of hard work. Test it — set a one-minute timer to sit and do nothing but breathe. It’s amazing how long 60 seconds can feel.
Many people use objects such as a special gemstone, angel stone, pendant or candle to focus their meditation. For example, you might observe the whitish-pink creaminess of a pearl and focus on the purity and natural beauty it represents.
You can also use a mantra to focus your meditation. Sayings like, “I haven’t come this far only to come this far” can help you push through stalled periods, inspiring you to keep going with your dream. As you recite the words aloud or in your head, let your body experience feeling excited and anxious to move forward with your goal.
2. Exercise
Exercise is one of the best holistic ways to stay grounded. It dispels stress as nature intended by tapping into your biological fight-or-flight mechanism, clearing away some of that excess cortisol and improving focus after you finish.
Your best form of exercise is whatever your body loves most. Some of the best for holistically grounding yourself include:
- Running
- Walking
- Kickboxing
- Dance
- HIIT
- Yoga
3. Talk It Out
Humans are social by nature. Have you ever noticed how an objective third party can sometimes arrive at the obvious answer to a problem that’s plagued you for ages in no time? That’s because they aren’t emotionally invested in it. Whether you meet with a therapist or ask a trusted friend or mentor for guidance, talking about your challenges can give you peace of mind.
4. Journal
Writing is powerful. It takes overwhelming emotions that can seem like steam engines when trapped in your inchoate brain, making them life-sized and easier to work through. Getting your thoughts on the page often helps you clarify your next steps.
You can also use writing to improve your mental state. For example, many people keep a daily gratitude journal to raise their vibrations when they feel low.
5. Art
You don’t have to be the next Picasso to ground yourself through art. Sometimes, it’s easier to use this method when words don’t come easily.
For example, splattering paint across a canvas like Jackson Pollock is a fabulous way to express powerful feelings that upset your psyche. Some of the greatest human creations have come from processing emotional pain — look at Van Gogh’s career.
6. Tune Into Your Senses
If you have attended therapy in the past, you may have learned the 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 grounding technique. It involves listing five things you can see, followed by four you can feel and three you can hear. Finish with two you can smell and one you can taste. This connects you to your surroundings, making you feel in tune with them.
7. Alter Your Immersion
Have you ever felt sad after watching a tragic movie or more energetic after an upbeat song? The atmosphere you immerse yourself in can alter your mood — and help ground you.
If necessary, vent strong emotions by going for a drive and screaming death metal at the top of your lungs. Then, return to sanity by listening to a comedy podcast or looking at your favorite silly cat memes.
8. Sit With Your Pets
Animals are masters of mindfulness. Have you ever watched a fully awake and aware cat simply gazing out of a window? That’s one grounded creature.
You can take advantage of the grounding energy our four-legged friends offer. Playing with pets can ease stress and lift depression, helping you see things more clearly.
Use Holistic Methods to Stay Grounded
It’s human for emotions to sometimes cloud your judgment and leave you feeling frazzled, scattered or off. The right holistic grounding techniques can bring you back to earth when you get swept away by future anxieties or thoughts of an unchangeable past.
Use these eight holistic ways to stay grounded when you feel lost. Bringing yourself down to earth and clearly seeing the situation lets you break through emotional paralysis and keep moving forward.