The Everyday Practice of Grounding

Originally posted on LinkedIn on June 8, 2025

Last summer, one of my classes introduced me to the idea of grounding, also known as earthing. For those of you who are not familiar, grounding is the practice of connecting directly with the Earth’s surface. The theory behind the practice suggests that interacting with the Earth’s electrical charge can positively influence our health, mood, and overall well-being.

At the time, it was not something I actively believed in, though I respected those who did. As I listened to my students share their experiences, I started to notice something interesting.

One student, Rickey, shared a story about his grandfather. On rough days, Rickey’s grandfather would simply go outside and lie in the grass, claiming it made him feel better. Rickey wasn’t sure if his grandfather had heard of grounding or not, after all this was over 40 years ago. But the physical connection with the Earth seemed to have a positive effect on his mood.

As we discussed grounding more, this got me thinking- have I unknowingly been practicing grounding all along?

When I get home, the first thing I do when I get home is kick off my shoes. It’s like second nature to me. Even as a kid, I’d run outside barefoot, despite the warnings about hot sidewalks or sharp walks. (I did have an unfortunate incident with hot coals on a camping trip, but that’s another story for another day.)

It turns out, my everyday practices align with grounding.

• Walking outside barefoot to get the Sunday paper or take out the trash
• Spending time in the spring and summer tending to my garden, watering plants, pruning leaves, observing what’s growing, and deadheading flowers- all without shoes
• Gardening without gloves, feeling the soil move through my fingers to check the texture and assess the moisture level

When I have been sitting in front of my computer for too long, I instinctively head outside to walk barefoot in the grass. Whether it is walking around the perimeter of the yard to see if my sunflowers are starting to grow or spending a few minutes in my reclining lawn chair, basking in the sun, these moments in nature can provide me with the calm and balance that I was missing.

While there is limited research on grounding, its proponents claim there are many benefits including:

• Decreasing stress
• Deepen restorative sleep
• Normalize cortisol levels
• Relax muscles
• Boost moods

I may not fully subscribe to the idea of grounding, but my mindset is hey, if it makes you feel better, what can it hurt?

Interestingly, June 1st was National Barefoot Day. I did not officially celebrate the holiday, but I unintentionally commemorated it by doing what I often do- walking around barefoot through the grass and mud (it’s been raining a lot here).

Now that I’ve been at my computer for a little while, all of this talk about grounding has made me anxious to get outside. It’s time to head to the backyard, check out my sunflowers, and feel the Earth between my feet.

(Image Credit: Canva AI Generator)