When life feels overwhelming — when your thoughts are scattered, your body tense, your emotions all over the place — it can feel hard to find your footing. You might say you feel “ungrounded,” and that’s exactly what’s happening: you’ve lost that sense of connection to something solid, steady, and supportive.
The good news? You can find your roots again.
One of the most powerful ways to feel calm, clear, and centered is to reconnect with the earth beneath you. We call this grounding, and it’s a practice anyone can do, anywhere there’s even a patch of grass, soil, or sand.
Over the years, at retreats and in coaching sessions, we’ve guided clients through simple grounding practices. Many come back saying how much calmer and more present they feel — even after just a few minutes outdoors.
In this post, I’ll share three of my favorite grounding practices: Roots of Clarity, Sacred Walks, and Barefoot Grounding. These practices are easy to try, and they can help you feel more stable and at ease — no matter what’s going on around you.
Why grounding matters
Have you ever noticed how you feel after spending a day in the park or on the beach? That peaceful, steady feeling is no accident.
Research shows that connecting with nature lowers cortisol (the stress hormone), slows your heart rate, and helps regulate your nervous system. You think more clearly, breathe more easily, and feel more at home in your own skin.
Grounding simply means coming back into your body and back into connection with the earth. It’s a way of saying to yourself: I’m here. I’m safe. I’m supported.
And that’s something we all need.
Practice 1: Roots of Clarity
Why it helps:
When your mind is racing and you feel overwhelmed, this practice helps you slow down and anchor yourself in the present. It’s like pressing a mental “reset” button.
How to do it:
Find a quiet outdoor spot — it doesn’t have to be fancy. A backyard, a park, even a small patch of grass outside your office works.
Stand or sit comfortably, feet flat on the ground. Close your eyes if you like, and take a few slow, deep breaths.
Now imagine you’re a tree. With each exhale, picture roots growing from your feet into the soil, stretching deep into the earth. With each inhale, feel yourself drawing up calm, steady energy from those roots.
Stay here for a few minutes, breathing and imagining your roots growing stronger, deeper. When you’re ready, open your eyes and notice how you feel — usually calmer, clearer, and more present.
Practice 2: Sacred Walks
Why it helps:
Walking is something we do every day — but when you walk mindfully in nature, it becomes a powerful way to clear your mind and reconnect with yourself.
How to do it:
Find a natural space to walk — a park, a garden, a beach, a forest trail.
Start walking slowly, focusing on the sensation of each footstep connecting with the ground. Notice how your body feels as you move.
Bring your attention to what’s around you — the colors, shapes, sounds, and scents. Resist the urge to rush or check your phone. If your mind wanders, that’s okay — just gently bring it back to your steps and your surroundings.
Even 10–15 minutes of this kind of walk can help you feel lighter, more present, and more at peace.
Practice 3: Barefoot Grounding
Why it helps:
There’s something so freeing about feeling the earth directly under your feet. This practice, also called “earthing,” helps you feel connected, alive, and balanced.
How to do it:
Find a safe outdoor space — grass, sand, soil, or even smooth stones. Take off your shoes and socks, and stand or walk barefoot.
As you walk, notice the textures and temperatures under your feet — soft, cool grass; warm, gritty sand; the firmness of the earth. Take slow breaths and really feel your connection to the ground.
You can do this for just a few minutes, or longer if you like. Many people say it leaves them feeling calm yet energized, like they’ve “plugged back in” to the earth’s energy.
If barefoot walking isn’t an option, even sitting with your bare feet resting on the ground can be soothing.
You deserve to feel steady
If you’ve been feeling scattered or weighed down lately, I want you to know you’re not alone. And I want to remind you: you already have what you need to feel more grounded — right under your feet.
Try one of these practices this week. See how it feels. Maybe even write down what you notice afterward — calmer breathing, clearer thinking, a little more ease in your body.
These are small steps, but over time they help you feel more anchored, more alive, more you.
Stay tuned for the next post in this series, where we’ll explore the theme of mindfulness in nature and dive into practices that help you stay present and centered.
Dr. J. Peter is a specialist in psychological type and cognitive-behavioural sciences. He helps clients build better emotional, psychosocial and relational well-being.
Personality Matters LLP 