Grounding Yourself in the Workplace

Sometimes we might experience stressful and anxious moments during our work hours, whether it be at home or at the workplace. These moments are extremely hard to deal with as you might be facing time sensitive deliverables in a professional setting. As such, we recommend practicing grounding when facing these stressful situations.

Grounding is the practice of tuning into your senses to bring yourself back into the present moment. Most of the time, worry stems from past memories or future possibilities. However, these are things we are unable to affect or change. Being in the present moment is important in allowing us regain agency and make changes to improve our situation. By focusing on our current environment through the senses, grounding allows us to face stress and anxiety with a calmer mind. Here are some exercises you can practice:

Sound

Listen to your favorite song - If your work permits, tune into your favorite song that is able to help you activate your ears. Sometimes turning up the volume allows you to tune into the song and relax your mind. Focus on an instrument in your favorite song or even the lyrics. Allow that focus to keep you in the present and step away from the stressful situation.

Touch

Rub your hand on fabric - notice the texture and focus on how your fingers are going from point to point. Preferably use a smooth fabric that allows you to experience different layers and the movement of the cloth. Some find it more calming to rub a smooth rock instead and to focus rolling it around in your hand. 

Taste

Let a piece of chocolate melt in your mouth, noticing how it taste and feels. As the chocolate melts in your mouth, describe to yourself how the textures change around your tongue. Imagine different adjectives to describe the sweet (or bitter) taste of the chocolate as it becomes more mushy. Where does the chocolate begin to find itself in your mouth? Does your tongue have to scrape the chocolate from your teeth? If so, focus on the changing form of the chocolate to step away from your anxiety. 

Sight

Count pieces of furniture around you when your find yourself in stressful situations. Furniture are common items you can find around in your home or at your workplace and can be an easy exercise to complete. Do not stress too hard in finding every possible furniture in the room and instead count those in your reasonable vision. Take a breath, start from a different point and count again. Do not be afraid if the number is different. Breathe in between each count.

Smell

Smell something that is associated with good memories. Some people have a favorite pillow that smells of their childhood or of their loved one. If they are within your vicinity, consider picking them up and smelling them to relive calming memories. Sometimes having a scented candle around and smelling it can emulate a similar effect. This exercise improves with routine and the more you practice it, the stronger the calming effect.

Want to learn more about grounding techniques? Sign up now with Infinit Care for a counseling session to speak to a mental health expert. Consider using Infinit Care's Chat Bot for a quick chat about counseling and grounding techniques.