How to Ground Yourself: A Tool for HSPs & Everyday Use

A Daily Grounding Practice is Essential for HSPs to Thrive

A true story from the author, a highly sensitive person…

I loved being outside as a kid.

I was so connected to nature and the animals on our farm.

I would lay down and look at the sky, listen to all the birds and their different calls and songs, watch the animals’ behavior, and delightfully play with the goats.

I would jump on something and they would jump on it after me. They were my best friends.

To this day, put me with animals and I’m happy (and grounded).  That’s the thing about being grounded it’s like those moments on the farm where I was totally present with nature.  I knew all the small details going on around me because I was present and paying attention. I was tuned into nature.

A lot of people ask me to name examples of how to ground yourself, especially for panic attacks and anxiety. A grounding technique I like to use is to imagine ourselves as a carefree young child out in nature. It’s  a great way to begin for grounding yourself.

Just now I stood on my balcony, the sun on my skin, my cat sunbathing happily next to me, and I watched honey bees land on the citrus tree flowers taking in the nectar. I noticed the marvelous lines in the leaves and the incredible design of spider webs. I heard different bird calls and watched a baby bird call out to its dad to be fed.  I was one with nature and it was bliss.

I intentionally created an environment around me that gives me that connection with nature even when I am at home. Sometimes I don’t want to face driving somewhere to be in nature so it’s wonderful to have it here all the time.  When I become in tune with nature I am calm and recharging my batteries, connecting to my inner child, feeling still and balanced.  When I do these little nature moments It’s like little stops at a gas station. If I do little moments like that throughout the day it recharges my soul.

No matter how busy or stressful life can be sometimes we have the choice to take these little “nature breaks”.

How to Stay Grounded…Grounding Yourself

Here are some daily grounding techniques and practices HSPs in my Sensitive Empowerment Community practice:

• I always feel grounded with animals and plants so every morning while having my coffee, my cat sits on my dressing gown, and I stroke his fur and listen to his purring. I also feel really grounded while out in the garden so I try to do this as often as I can.
• How do I stay grounded? I am a water person so I have been listening almost every day now to YouTube videos of streams, waves with some birds chirping. I find the sound of water soooo soothing. It has been helping me as I do my work and especially in the evening.
• I look out our windows a lot. There are a lot of street trees so lush and green now – I feel so soothed just looking at the leaves- really soaking them in several times a day. I feel a deep connection to nature, always have.
• I love sitting on our one front step so I’m very low to the ground and looking closely at the plants and flowers and the soil. Seeing the intricate detail just calms me. It feels bigger than the little dramas of daily life as a human.
• I understand grounding yourself is important for highly sensitive persons, so I spend time with my cat. My cat is unbelievably soft and very calm and quiet, but quick to purr. I love how completely content he is when I pet him and how he closes his eyes in full presence. I love connecting with him – sort of sinking into the way he is so embodied.
• I also find just watching animals move very grounding. They are so in their bodies. Watching dogs run in the park has that same effect. I’m really grateful to live across the street from a small park full of dogs.
• It’s funny because this year I’ve gone a little bit nuts with all of the flowers and plants that I bought for the front and back of my house, and now I realize why it’s because nature is so important to me and because I’m spending so much time at home I’m making it more into my sanctuary. It feels so nice to see all of the flowers and plants every day! Worth every penny!

Are you a Highly Sensitive Person aka HSP?
Take the Sensitivity Test!

• In the mornings, I make my breakfast and then eat it on the back verandah, which faces east-south-east. This means that I can get the sunlight I need for helping to set my body clock (to help overcome insomnia), and it’s also a very nice grounding sort of thing, first thing in the day. I sit, read, and just watch things around me.
• How to ground yourself as an HSP? Good question! During the day, I can see a nice-ish view from my window and often pause to just consider the beauty of the sunlight and wind/breeze on the different types of leaves, and the sound of birds.
• At night, when I go outside for something, the stars catch my eye and I stay out there for a while, trying to absorb the awesomeness, wonder, beauty, and peace of seeing them. I love when they’re bright and clear.
• I’ve always had a deep, tender connection with animals. My mum once told me that as a baby, the dog we had at that time would be constantly by my side; always looking out for me. Since then I have always had animal companions that I could communicate with. Nature and animals definitely have a grounding, rejuvenating effect upon me, as does walking barefoot, feeling the earth in my hands, and hugging trees.
• Wondering how to stay grounded when you’re out and about in the world? This grounding technique works anywhere and can be done discreetly. I place my right hand over the middle of the chest. Left hand over right hand. I have no idea why but this really works to ground me and…nature.
• I try and spend time in nature as well.  I find it particularly grounding if while I am out in a park I take off my shoes and wade in the water if it has a small stream.  I really like that.  Sometimes I can sit in the water.  Or I will sit on a rock and just have the water roll over my feet.  It’s good stuff

• I walk my dog every day and am grateful to live among many trees and near a river…these help immensely.

• I  find music and nature are my sanctuaries.  I love taking a soak in my hot tub and listening to inspirational music and singing.  I also love my backyard and watching the birds come visit my bird feeders.  Sometimes I think they are talking back to me and thanking me for the seeds or waiting for me to fill them.  I love connecting with nature on an emotional level.  I find that really grounding.  I also love putting my hand on my chest and owning my feeling in the moment.  I can’t believe how much that works for me but it really helps me settle my emotional brain.  I immediately feel calm.
• I think, especially since we’re so tuned in to the little things, that focusing on these in nature…the details helps for everything to recede into the background for calming, then grounding. As some of you have mentioned, it can be the leaves or grass, tiny flowers.

• In my area, I find tuning into the puzzle pieces of bark on the ponderosa pines (so amazing!) is very grounding and soothing. Watching a little bug flit or crawl.

• I also like the idea of recreating scenes in your mind’s eye and allowing yourself to ‘go’ there, even if you can’t do so physically at the time. I like to surround myself with a pyramid that’s open to the bottom and allow in the energy of the Earth, while drawing in celestial energy through the top, and grounding that way.

• I hope you get inspired by these ideas!

  Do you know why so many HSPs struggle with high-stress levels and anxiety? There are particular reasons important to know. Learn why and what helps in my free Masterclass…

  High Sensitivity and Anxiety Masterclass