Stress and anxiety are often the biggest obstacles when it comes to important moments in our lives. We wanted to share with you a grounding technique that may help you ease your state of mind so that you can explore mindfulness when you most need it.
The 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Grounding Technique is designed to use the five senses to focus on the moment and avoid multiple anxious thoughts that can get in the way of your progress. Deep, slow, and long breaths are your first priority for achieving a calm state before proceeding to the following steps:
5. See: Acknowledge five things that you can see around you. You can pick between big and small items to keep your options open.
4. Touch: Acknowledge four things that you can touch around you.
3. Hear: Acknowledge three things you can hear around you. Instead of listening to your own thoughts or sounds from your body like your stomach growling, focus on external noises.
2. Smell: Acknowledge two things around you that you can smell. This step may be a challenge compared to the others, being outdoors has plenty of options for smells.
1. Taste: Acknowledge one thing around you that you can taste. It doesn’t necessarily have to be food, as toothpaste and minty floss you use in the morning or at night are easy sources.
End this exercise with a long, deep breath.
With these steps, you will be able to get the most out of the moment. Focusing on your senses will help you be more mindful. Put this technique into practice to so that you can improve your health and ease your mind.
‘Get yourself grounded and you can navigate even the stormiest roads in peace’. Steve Goodier
