You’re eating well, getting your supplements in, resting when you can. And yet… your body feels like it’s buzzing. Wired. Overstimulated. Like your nervous system never got the memo to chill out…

Have you ever considered that maybe all you need to do is take your shoes off and touch some grass...or sand? 😉

“As a busy mum of 4 I don’t always have time for long meditations or self-care routines, but I always have time to step outside, take a breath, and put my feet on the ground. 

Grounding never fails to bring me back to my body, no matter how chaotic the day’s been.” - Georgie x

What we’ll cover in this article:

💖 Why grounding reduces inflammation and calms your nervous system

💖 How barefoot time actually rewires your stress response

💖 The impact of modern disconnection (and how to shift it)

💖 Super-easy ways to ground - yes, even in the city

💖 What research is saying about the immune-boosting magic of the Earth

Did you know?…

✅ Just 30 MINUTES of barefoot contact with the Earth has been shown to reduce inflammation markers in the body.[1]

✅ Grounding can significantly REDUCE CORTISOL LEVELS (your main stress hormone) and rebalance your nervous system.[2]

✅ Grounding has been shown to INCREASE feelings of wellbeing, calm, and emotional clarity – even in high-stress individuals.[3]

There’s something deeply comforting about standing barefoot on the ground. Whether it’s soft grass, warm sand, or damp soil under your feet, it just feels right. 

Grounding: It’s simple. It’s ancient. And our bodies love it.

Modern life is loud. Screens, concrete, deadlines, city shoes. We’re so used to being disconnected from nature that we forget what it feels like to be in it.

But the second we make contact again (real, skin-to-earth contact) something clicks. We soften. Breathe a little deeper. Think a little clearer.

“Grounding is the most comprehensive healing modality available. It is medically proven to instantly support the direct healing of your body, mind and soul.” - Dr Laura Koniver

So what actually is Grounding?

Grounding is simply this: Touching the Earth with your skin. Bare feet on grass. Toes in the sand. Hands in the dirt. Lying on a picnic blanket with your legs stretched into the soil. It can even be dipping into the sea or a river.

The Earth holds a natural, gentle electric charge (don’t worry, it’s the good kind). When you touch it, your body takes in free electrons that help rebalance your internal systems. 

Calming inflammation, soothing your nervous system, helping your body remember how to feel safe and regulated again.

“It’s as if a switch is turned on and the body’s inner works start functioning more vitally and robustly.” - Dr Gaétan Chevalier

Basically: your body gets it. It knows exactly what to do with this kind of connection. It’s the kind of quiet magic you can actually feel.

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Why it actually works 

We usually think of inflammation as something you see; swelling, redness, soreness. But honestly, so much inflammation is invisible. It builds up from stress, poor sleep, processed food, EMFs, hustle culture, all the little things that add up and wear us down.

Grounding helps undo that buildup.

The Earth’s surface is full of free electrons. When you touch it, those electrons come in and neutralise the oxidative stress (aka the low-key internal chaos) that’s behind chronic inflammation.

“Grounding has been shown to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, improve sleep, enhance well-being, and much, much more.” - Dr Joseph Mercola

It’s like a quiet reset for your body... no effort, no supplements, no side effects.

“By getting grounded often, your immune system doesn’t have to spend so much time fighting inflammation and can do what it’s supposed to do.” - Clint Ober (Early grounding research pioneer).

Grounding for Sleep, Mood & That Calm-But-Energised Feeling

Let’s be honest, deep, restful sleep feels like a rare luxury these days. Whether it’s your mind racing at night or just feeling wired and weirdly tired during the day, so many of us are not getting the kind of rest we need.

Grounding helps with that. Especially when you do it in the morning (hello, barefoot matcha in the garden 🍵✨) or right before bed.

It’s been shown to help regulate cortisol (that stressy fight-or-flight hormone), which means better sleep and more natural energy during the day. 

Basically, it helps reset your body clock. It's the way we were meant to rise and rest before screens and schedules took over.

But even more than that, grounding just makes you feel settled. Like your whole system gets the memo that it’s safe to relax. A lot of people say they feel more centred, less reactive, and way more emotionally balanced after grounding, even if it’s just five minutes on grass.

And when your nervous system is chill, your body stops constantly bracing for the next thing. You have more energy. More focus. And way more bandwidth for joy. Sounds pretty good, right?

You Don’t Need to Be “That Girl” to Do This

Here’s the beautiful thing: grounding is for everyone. You don’t need to live in the mountains, wear linen, or be on top of your wellness routine. You don’t even have to feel “well” to do it.

If you can sit, lie down, or stand with your skin touching the Earth, you’re doing it.

Kids do it instinctively. They ditch their shoes, run around barefoot, dig their fingers into the dirt without overthinking it. That’s their nervous system saying “yes please, I want more of this!”

As adults, we unlearn that. But our bodies haven’t forgotten. The benefits are still there, waiting for us to soak them up.

Whether you’re burned out, navigating something big, juggling work and kids, or just trying to feel better, grounding is like a quiet invitation back to yourself. No rules. No pressure. Just connection.

Easy Ways to Ground (That Don’t Feel Like Another “Thing” to Do)

Let this be simple. You don’t need a routine. You just need skin and the Earth. Here are some super-easy ways to start:

💖 Go barefoot: Grass, sand, dirt; it all works.

💖 Lie down: Sunbathe on a picnic blanket, read under a tree, or just sprawl out for a few minutes in the garden and breathe.

💖 Touch a tree or plant: Hands on bark. Fingers in the soil. Bonus points for getting super hippie and hugging a tree 😉

💖 Swim in natural water: Sea, lake, river… immerse yourself in that grounding glory!

💖 Garden bare-handed: Dig, weed, plant. No gloves. Let your hands get messy - trust me, it’s worth pushing past the discomfort 🫶

💖 Morning barefoot moment: Sip your tea in the garden with no shoes. No garden? Why not walk to the local park and slip your shoes & socks off for 5 minutes?

💖 Grounding shoes: Yep, these exist - special shoes that let you stay connected while walking or running.

Live in the city? You’d be surprised how many grounding spots are hiding in plain sight. Think: parks, riverside paths, even that tiny green patch near your building. Look around, once you start noticing, you’ll find little pockets of Earth everywhere.

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Make It a Habit (In the Most Gentle Way)

Like anything in wellness, grounding works best when it becomes something you actually do. Not because you “should,” but because your body starts craving it.

Aim for 10–15 minutes a day if you can. But if all you have is 3 minutes between calls or while the kettle boils, amazing, it all counts!

Try tying it to something you already do: your morning matcha, your after-dinner walk, your post-school-run reset. No pressure, no schedule, just gentle repetition until it becomes part of the rhythm of your day.

Over time, grounding becomes more than a wellness habit. It becomes a ritual. A moment to reconnect, with your breath, your body, your pace, and the Earth itself.

“The benefits of Earthing are so profound that I believe it may be the greatest health discovery of our time.” - Dr Stephen Sinatra

Honestly, when something so simple makes such a difference, it’s kind of a no-brainer right?

Want a simple way to stay on track? Print and pin this table somewhere you’ll see it daily; on your fridge, mirror or desk. Let it be your gentle nudge to keep making small choices that lead to big changes.

Back to the Earth, Back to You

We’re constantly being pulled upward and outward, scrolling, striving, juggling, all in our heads, all the time.

Grounding pulls you back down. Into your body. Into the present. Into the part of you that remembers how to feel calm, steady, and safe.

The Earth has been here all along. Steady, generous, grounding. You don’t need to earn her support. You just have to open up to receiving it.

“Grounding can feel as if a switch is turned on and the body’s inner works start functioning more vitally and robustly.” - Dr Gaétan Chevalier

That’s the energy we all deserve to live with.

So take off your shoes. Step outside. Breathe deeply. And let the Earth remind you what it feels like to come home to yourself.

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Want a simple way to stay on track? 

Download this free phone background and let it be your gentle nudge to keep making small choices that lead to big changes x

This article is part of our Foundations of Health series, where we explore the 11 Foundational Pillars of Health. Each pillar helps to form the foundations you need for a Glowing Healthy body and mind. These articles contain free and accessible tips to get you started on your health journey, no matter where you’re at right now.

Sources:
[1] Chevalier et al., Journal of Inflammation Research, 2015
[2] Ghaly & Teplitz, Journal of Environmental and Public Health, 2004
[3]Chevalier et al., Psychological Reports, 2015

Read more from our Glowing Healthy Foundations of Health Series Here 👇