I always knew that spending time outdoors was good for me. The fresh air, sunlight, and green spaces help me feel calmer and more focused. What I didn’t realize is that the Earth itself is equipped with extraordinary healing power and natural energy. Every day the Earth shares this energy with everything alive.

There’s just one problem: living in our modern world, most of us have lost contact with nature. As a result, we’ve stopped receiving this healing energy from the ground.

This is where earthing (also known as grounding) comes in. It simply means making direct physical contact with the Earth and it’s as easy as going outside barefoot. Other ways to earth include sitting or laying on the ground, gardening, hugging a tree, or swimming in natural water.

Just as our bodies need vitamin D from the sun, they also need “vitamin G”, the G standing for ground.

And this isn’t just a fad. I have experienced the benefits of earthing first hand, and have also gotten lots of positive feedback from my friends! I was inspired to start earthing after watching “The Earthing Movie“, I thought that it was awesome that simply by going outside and putting your bare feet on the ground you could receive so many benefits! After watching this documentary I started grounding for 10 minutes every single night, and pretty quickly felt the benefits. I fell asleep a lot faster and felt more rested in the morning. I also use grounding to manage my stress!

What Happens When You Ground?

The Benefits of Earthing

Coming in contact with the Earth can help to:

• Reduce inflammation and pain
• Lower stress
• Improves immunity
• Reduce jet lag
• Improve sleep quality
• Support faster healing
• Improve your looks
• Detox your body from EMFs
• Benefit pretty much every organ in your body!

Many people who start grounding notice they fall asleep more easily, feel more rested, and recover from everyday stress more quickly. On the flip side, when we stay disconnected for long periods, inflammation can rise, sleep often suffers, and wounds take longer to heal. Most people don’t realize what they are missing until they reconnect with the earth, and the benefits are so noticeable that once you start it’s hard to stop!

Why Have We Lost Contact with the Earth?

Throughout history, humans maintained a direct connection with the Earth. We sat, stood, walked, slept, and worked outside. Our skin was almost always touching the “skin” of the Earth, allowing it to share its natural energy with us.

Today, most of us live on the Earth but rarely come into contact with it. In the past, people walked barefoot or wore conductive leather footwear. About a century and a half ago, that changed. We began wearing shoes made of synthetic materials that block the Earth’s energy. The homes we live in, the buildings where we work and learn, and the places we spend our free time all add another layer of separation.

We have become so disconnected that going outside barefoot now feels unusual and even wrong!

Earthing is Not a New Idea!

Throughout history, humans have been connected to the Earth. Native Americans, in particular, have long respected and recognized the significance of the ground. This understanding is beautifully captured in the words of Ota Kte, a leader of the Lakota tribe:

In the 1880s, a back-to-nature movement in Germany led by Adolf Just also encouraged people to sleep directly on the Earth and walk barefoot. In his book Return to Nature, Just wrote that the feet are for humans what roots are for plants — a way to draw vital energy from the ground.

In the late 1990s, Clint Ober rediscovered the benefits of earthing. He first tested the effects of grounding on himself, then on friends. Thanks to his work, more and more people are learning about the practice. His message is simple: “Get grounded, get well, get relief from pain, heal.”

How to Practice Earthing

The easiest and most basic way to ground is simply to spend time outside barefoot. The best part? It’s completely free. Take off your shoes and socks and let your feet touch the ground while you walk, stand, sit, garden, or read a book — just make sure your bare skin is in direct contact with the Earth.

I like to take off my shoes and socks and just hang out outside while my feet stay on the ground.

When grounding outdoors, make sure you’re on a conductive surface. These include:

Surfaces like wood chips, asphalt, and most synthetic materials will not allow you to connect with the Earth’s energy. In addition to sitting, standing, walking, running, or lying on the ground, swimming in the ocean, a lake, or a river will also bring you into contact with the Earth’s energy.

For the greatest benefits, try to ground every day for at least 15 minutes. You don’t have to sit still the whole time — you can talk with friends, read a book, watch a movie, or do light activities while your body stays connected to the ground.

You Can Earth Inside!

If the weather doesn’t allow you to spend time outdoors, or if you simply don’t have the chance to go outside, you can still ground indoors. Although it’s not as cost efficient, it is still just as effective.

The easiest way to practice earthing inside is to use a grounding mat for sleep. Place it on your bed under the sheets, plug it into a grounded outlet, and you’ll be earthing the entire night without spending any extra time. Many people also find this helps them get a better night’s rest.

You can also use a grounding pad under your feet while working (especially helpful if you sit at a desk), a grounding pillowcase, grounding blanket, or even a grounding mouse pad.

Higher-quality, more expensive grounding products are available from specialized sites like earthing.com (started by Clint Ober). This is where our family gets our grounding products from. If you’re looking for more affordable and accessible options, there are plenty available on Amazon. To get you started I have listed some below (please note that I have not personally tested these specific products):

• Grounding matt for sleep
• Grounding pad
• Grounding pillowcase
• Grounding mouse pad
• Grounding blanket

Whether you choose to ground outside or inside, the goal is the same: regular, direct contact with the Earth.

Resources to Learn More

• The Earthing Movie – A documentary that introduced many people to the practice, I loved this movie soooo good!
• Earthing: The Most Important Health Discovery Ever? by Clint Ober – I found this book really insightful, it goes deeper into the history and research of earthing
• Earthing Institute – Research, articles, and information
• Earthing.com – grounding products and additional resources (founded by Clint Ober)
• Cleveland Clinic article on earthing – a more clinical, mainstream-medicine perspective on the practice

My Call to Action

My call to action for you is simple…

Even if you don’t believe that grounding is real, just go outside, and sit, stand, or stroll barefoot on grass, sand, dirt, or concrete. Ground for 30 minutes a day for a week, and notice how you begin to feel better. It’s easy, it’s free, and it’s the best thing you can do for your body. As Clint Ober claims, “earthing is the most important health discovery yet.”

If grounding helps you, please leave a comment on this post. It takes a few minutes…but greatly helps the blog and will allow more people to find happiness naturally! Additionally feel free to reach out with any questions!

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