Don’t bother me, I’m earthing.
Moving from the big smoke to a country town has been a huge change for me it’s the first time I’ve ever lived the “simple life”- think of Paris and Nicole’s series back in the early 2000s, legit I felt like this was me.
Living in a small-town strips life back to the basics. You don’t worry so much about your outfits or your makeup, you can go out to town super casual without feeling like you need to hide behind enormous glasses. There is a beautiful simplicity to it.
One thing I noticed early on was that I became the mom to let my son run around the park with no shoes-I NEVER thought I would be this mom because, let’s be honest, I thought it was gross. As the days went on though, I too was ditching my rubber soles more often than not. Allowing my feet to touch the bare ground and connecting with mother earth was such a simple yet invigorating practice. I could feel a difference in my emotional well-being and felt well… grounded. Earthing is now one of my daily rituals, an absolute must.
What is Earthing?
Earthing or grounding, as they commonly refer to, is the simple yet effective practice of merely walking around outside barefoot or by sitting right on nature’s soil. Think of walking on the beach, the sand between your toes, sitting or lying down on a beautiful green patch of grass-these are all examples of earthing. Earthing restores an essential electric connection to the Earth, lost over time because of the ways we humans live. Many people go through life with pain and weak health precisely because of this disconnection. When reconnected, people feel, sleep, and look better. They are healthier, with less pain and stress.
Ways to Get Grounded
There are several types of earthing practices you can try by making direct or indirect contact with the earth.
Take a Dip
You can use water for earthing benefits by going for a swim in a natural body of water. Challenge yourself with an early morning swim in the ocean or relax in the peacefulness of a lake or river.
Kick Off Your Shoes
My favourite and easiest way to get grounded. Take off your shoes and relish in walking barefoot through the grass or sink your toes in the sand on a beach walk.
Relax and Lay on the Ground
Get that skin to earth contact by simply laying in the grass or on the beach. I make an effort to do my meditations like this-you feel amazing!
Try a Grounding Product
For all you city slickers or for people who do not have access to a natural space where you can get outside readily, a grounding product may be your best bet.
There are so many options, from bedding to mats, and even socks. I personally haven’t tried any products yet as I have been so fortunate enough to do my grounding outdoors but will eventually get a grounding mat for our mattress.
Health Benefits
After doing more research it turns out there are SO many benefits to walking around barefoot. According to information collected from chopra.com, it can decrease inflammation and pain, reduce stress and improve circulation. There has been a multitude of studies that can confirm amazing changes within the human body after consistent earthing.
I personally have been struggling with severe bouts of anxiety for about a year and I notice a huge difference in my mood when I make a point to ground myself. I feel more centred, calm and at peace-and if I do it first thing in the morning, I can see the positive effects on my thoughts throughout the day.
Reflecting back on my life in Sydney, I was never without shoes and barely let my feet touch the earth as so many of us city slickers do. Earthing has become a daily affair in our family, no matter the weather I make sure that we all ditch our shoes and go outside to connect with nature. In fact, our veggie patch has a strict “no-shoe zone” policy to ensure we get our feet directly on the soil while we pick the days vegetables. It really has opened my eyes that no matter where I end up, I will make it a daily practice to always let my feet kiss the ground. I highly recommend adding this into your daily routine, I promise you won’t regret it!
“The way to live is to be connected to the Earth – grounded as much as possible − because being connected is like pulling a switch that enables your body to function more naturally and efficiently.”
-Clint Ober
