Grounding Activities

Grounding activities are things that you can do to help bring yourself back into the present moment.  These exercises can be quick and simple or involve a longer process.  Grounding exercises can help you to refocus and return to your current situation.  Grounding can be helpful for individuals experiencing stress or anxiety.  Sometimes, grounding activities need to be repeated in order to be successful.

Some examples of grounding:

• Take in 10 deep breaths.  With each breath, focus your attention on your breathing as you breathe in and as you breathe out.  Count each breath as you exhale. 
• Splash water on your face and notice how it feels.  Notice how the towel feels when you dry your face. 
• Stretch.  Notice how this makes your body feel.
• Look at what is around you.  Pick a color and find items of that color.
• Use your five senses to identify things around you.  (See visual below)