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I sit down at my computer with a goal in mind and it happens. Write a list down. You need to meditate! You didn't return that email! Thank your friend for the wonderful gift! Have you checked your dm's? Don't forget to order what's needed for Luca's valentine box at school. Have you drank enough water today? Why hasn't she called you back? How did I just end up on social media on my phone when I sat down at my computer?
In this age of extreme connection, we are more disconnected than ever. The pace of everything around us continues to move faster and intentionally slowing things down can feel like swimming upstream. We feel like we're pulled in a million different directions, in our home life, our work life, even mentally.
We tell ourselves these stories that we just need to stay up late responding to emails, or that cancelling our social plans, or skipping the workout will fix it. Or that we need to buy something to help us get organized. Or we just need to sleep.
And as entrepreneurs, I feel like we fall into this trip more than ever, because we have no one that's setting our schedule or our priorities!
This anxiety can lead to extreme overwhelm where we feel like we are spinning, completely unable to move forward on ANYTHING! Or to anxiety attacks where we feel paralyzed, frightened or out of control.
There's a tool that can help quiet that noise, calm the anxiety. It's been used by therapists for years as a way to create space from stressful feelings in any situation, especially around anxiety, PTSD, trauma and more. It's called grounding. Or as my friend Kari Keating says "BE HERE NOW" It's designed to bring our mind and bodies into alignment in this present moment, so we can slow down the spin and figure out the next step.
So if you're telling yourself "I don't have time for these", that's when you need them the most.
Here are a few of my absolutely favorite grounding techniques that will help you BE HERE NOW, with your body, in this moment. And tip….put away the electronics…..as they are usually what create or worsen the feeling of overwhelm.
- Just breathe. Breathing - inhale and exhale. Think or even say "in" and "out". Notice how it feels. Place one hand on your stomach, the other on your chest. Visualize the breath going down to your toes, or even rooting your breath into the earth, and exhaling into the sky. Or that you're a balloon, inflating and deflating. Basically, you're meditating by being one with yourself and your breath. This also helps get your heart rate to normal and lowers your blood pressure.
- Get into nature. Take an observation walk, outside. Really focus on your footsteps, to the cadence, to the feelings of your feet touching the ground. Note what is around you, according to your senses. What you see, what you hear, what you feel, what you smell, what you taste.
- Self Soothing Self Care: Babies do it! V will suck on her fingers + touch her silk pillow when she's tired or overstimulated and wants to put herself to sleep!
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- Take a shower or bath. Really notice how things feel, the sensations, the sounds, temperatures, smells.
- Make yourself something soothing.
- Keep something at your desk for a mini little grounding ritual. Lip conditioner, facial mist, essential oils.
- Lay on the ground! Connect to the earth. Especially outside, where you can soak up the positive energy from earth. Documentary - Earthing.
- Move your body! Even 5 minute of aerobic movement, whether walking, skipping, jumping jacks or pushups will increase your endorphins.
And if you're a parent, you're going to notice that many of these techniques are things we see kids do naturally! And there's nothing more present than a child who doesn't yet have advanced planning skills and is 100% focused on whatever is happening RIGHT now. On the BEING, not the doing.
Right before I came to record this, I literally had my mind spinning with ALL of the thoughts and shoulds. I was about to go outside to practice some connection in nature, when my little guy came in with his valentine's day box for school to decorate. And I decided to spend 10 minutes with him, with no agenda but being part of his creative process. The result? I'm grounded. I'm here, being, right now.
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