The Power of Daily Grounding Rituals
Rituals are performed in many cultures throughout the world for ceremonial, spiritual or religious practices. But the premise of a ritual doesn’t necessarily have to be associated with or performed in a customary way to hold power in your life.
Weaving simple rituals into our daily lives can improve our overall wellbeing. I believe daily rituals, like making time for a cup of tea in the garden every morning, are the foundations to a life well lived. Rituals gift us a moment for something we love, help to deepen the feeling of joy and fulfilment each day brings and allow us to become conscious of our place in the world.
Having small, sacred moments can help us feel grounded. Especially on days that feel like a whirlwind. When you’re constantly hitting the ground running we can begin to feel ‘flighty’, which can manifest as anxiousness and a lack clarity leaving us feeling indecisive or irritable. Implementing daily grounding rituals can therefore support and balance the body, mind and spirit.
Here are 8 of my favourite grounding rituals:
A simple morning stretch. Hands and feet touching the ground, slowly flowing through a few yoga postures and connecting with your breath allowing you to begin the day in a peaceful and calm state.
Slowly sip a cup of tea or favourite hot beverage. Ideally outside first thing in the morning (or if that’s not possible on the balcony or at a window) while slowly waking up with the natural light.
Implement device boundaries. Gift yourself at least 1 hour of ‘you time’ before looking at your phone or laptop in the morning and switching it off 1 hour before bed.
Step into nature. Bush walk, sit in the grass with bare feet, go for a swim, gaze up at the stars or walk through a garden smelling all the beautiful scents. Remember, ‘nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished’.
Movement. Yoga, tai chi, swimming, walking, dancing. All these gentle exercises can help you connect with your body and breath, while shaking off the day’s stresses.
Deep breathing. Take 10 slow, deep breaths into your abdomen and out through your nose. This simple technique can change your nervous system from a sympathetic state (fight or flight) to our calmer parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest).
Increase warming spices and foods in your diet. Ginger, turmeric, cinnamon and cumin are utilised for their grounding and balancing properties in Ayurvedic dishes. Increasing cooked or lightly steamed foods over raw can help you feel satiated, centred and nourished. Enjoy curries, stews, slow cooks and soups.
Meditation. Carve out some space in your day to sit in stillness. Meditation is a powerful tool for gaining perspective and calming your nervous system.