The 3 Things I Do to Ground Myself (And It’s Not Yoga or Meditation)
In today’s hectic world, staying mentally and emotionally grounded is more important than ever. With the constant demands of everyday life, it’s crucial to nurture our mind and soul, find peace, and take intentional breaks to avoid burnout.
As a mother of two little boys, juggling a full-time job, a side business, and living in Germany and facing language barriers daily, I’ve had my fair share of challenges. Without nearby grandparents, aunties, or uncles to lend a hand, it’s just me, my husband, and our two little troublemakers. This meant I had to develop self-care strategies that fit my unique circumstances.
I tried yoga and meditation—the go-to recommendations for calming nerves and managing anxiety. While I understand the benefits and know they work for many, they didn’t really work for me. I don’t always feel like doing yoga—even though it feels good to stretch and move my body, it’s not that relaxing or inspiring for me. As for meditation, I’ve always struggled with it. Listening to something like, “Relax, take a deep breath, feel the light shining on you, feel the warmth on your cheek and forehead…” doesn’t resonate. What light? What warmth? I’m sitting in an uncomfortable, straight spine position on my bedroom floor, feeling my cold hands and feet, and trying too hard to “get it right.”
So instead of forcing myself to stick with these mainstream techniques, I found my own methods for grounding myself and protecting my mental health. Here are the three habits that have made the biggest difference in my life:
I take mental health walks
Walking is like magic to me. Walking in nature is even better. Walking in the early morning is even more magical. It sets me up for a good start to the day, right away.
I take my youngest to daycare early in the mornings on weekdays. The daycare is a 3-minute walk from our home, and instead of coming back home right away, I take a longer detour to the nearby community gardens and just walk. No podcast, no music, no calls, no distractions. Just me—literally just me—because before 8 a.m., usually not a soul is out there. It’s just me, the road, the sky, and some birds chirping.
I walk with my thoughts: the news I read in the morning, my to-do list for work, what we’re going to eat for dinner, booking a dentist appointment, etc. At some point, I start listening to my steps, noticing my shoulders, my legs, and my whole body carrying me so naturally on this morning walk. I look at the sky and think, Wow, it looks so beautiful. And I don’t feel the need to take a photo of it—I just stop and enjoy it for a few seconds.
I hear the background noise of the morning traffic, the birds, and feel the cold air on my face. Suddenly, I realize I feel at ease, I feel present, and I feel good—and it only took me 10-15 minutes of walking alone in a nature-like environment.
I’m telling you, it’s worth it. You do have 20 minutes to do this on some mornings. Maybe you’ll scroll a little less on social media that day, or skip commenting on a post just to validate your intellect and importance to random people who don’t really matter to you. You won’t have time for that—because you made time for yourself.
2. I do crafty quiet evenings
I do a lot of crafts. I do it because I enjoy it. Usually, it’s in the evenings when everything calms down—kids are in bed, the kitchen is clean, and work is done—that’s when my crafty, fun evening begins. And yes, it really is fun for me.
I have my ritual: making herbal tea, grabbing my soft, warm blanket, settling into my cozy corner on the sofa, turning on an old period piece movie from the early 2000s, and picking up my embroidery to start stitching.
It’s very simple, yet so comforting to create this little blissful corner—a happy place for me. It could be anything else: wood carving, sewing clothes, or just reading a book. The point is, you find your thing, build a little ritual around it, and there you go—you’ve created a comfortable place. A place you can always return to when you feel the need for some me-time, away from all the external noise.
3. Quarterly self-care day
I realized that if I want wellness, it doesn’t necessarily have to involve a pricey mini-vacation to a fancy spa hotel. I can simply take a day off from work and assign at least one day every quarter for self-care.
What do I do on that day? It depends on what I feel like doing. Maybe it’s a full-body massage or a facial appointment. Maybe I’ll go to the swimming pool and enjoy a nice meal at a restaurant afterward. I might meet up with a friend I haven’t seen in a long time. Or I could take the day slow and easy—going to the gym, doing some crafts, taking a long walk in the forest, or decluttering the basement without any distractions. Anything that sparks joy and satisfaction for me on that particular day.
The key word is freedom—I’m free to do whatever I want on my self-care day.
Self-care doesn’t always have to mean pampering. Self-care and wellness also involve giving time and love to ourselves, slowing down, and listening to our own needs. It’s easy to get lost in the demands and pressures of everyday life, which is why it’s so important to set aside a day, mark it on your calendar, and celebrate taking care of yourself just as you celebrate other holidays.
Final Thoughts
These three habits—mental health walks, crafty evenings, and quarterly self-care days—have helped me stay grounded and balanced amidst life’s chaos. They might work for you, too.
We’re all unique, but we all need moments to pause, reconnect, and recharge. Find your own grounding practices, create the space for them, and rediscover the joy and inspiration that make life truly worth living.
