6 Things I Do to Stay Grounded
Published July 20th 2025
Healing isn’t cute. It’s messy, emotional, and sometimes involves me pinching my arm in public while whispering “I’m okay, I’m okay” like a very polite ghost. But over time, I’ve found a handful of physical and behavioral habits that keep me grounded and help me grow, even on the anxiety days, especially on the anxiety days.
Here are six things I do that help me feel like a functioning human being again:
1. Exercise = my anti-anxiety prescription (with cuter outfits)
I treat exercise like medicine. If I skip it, I feel it in my mood, my mind, and my energy. It doesn’t need to be a full gym session either. Running is my MVP. Getting my heart rate into zone 3 or 4 for just 10 minutes helps regulate my nervous system like nothing else.
No treadmill? No problem. I’ve power-walked to a coffee shop, danced in the kitchen like I was in a rom-com montage, and once jogged in place because Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summer” came on. It counts.
2. I squeeze my thumbs like they owe me rent
When I get that floaty, out-of-body feeling (a.k.a. “Are we sure I’m not a ghost?”), I bring myself back by pinching my arm or squeezing my thumbs and taking three deep breaths.
Other quick tricks:
• Splash cold water on your face (bonus: it makes you feel like you’re in a dramatic movie scene).
• Put your hands on a countertop and name five things you feel.
• Ground your feet and whisper, “I’m safe, I’m here, I’m okay.”
3. I don’t talk about my anxiety with just anyone
Unless it’s my therapist or my husband, I don’t unpack my anxiety mid-convo. Especially when it comes to health anxiety, talking about it with people who aren’t trained to help just makes it worse. It’s like Googling your symptoms but with less Wi-Fi and more accidental gaslighting.
Instead, I:
• Say, “I’ll be right back” and excuse myself from triggering convos.
• Mentally escape to the Taylor Swift Eras Tour (I’m in the VIP tent, obviously).
• Distract myself by counting how many people in the room are wearing white shoes.
4. I protect my mornings
Mornings matter. If I start my day scrolling my phone or spiraling in bed, the whole day follows that vibe. But if I start with even five minutes of intention? Game changer.
Meditation is great in theory, but when my anxiety is loud, sitting still for 15 minutes feels like psychological torture. So I:
• Do a 5-minute somatic routine
• Stretch in my pajamas while listening to soft music (romanticize it!).
• Light a candle, drink water, breathe.
5. I believe in something bigger than me (even when I don’t believe in myself)
This one’s more spiritual, but hey, it’s my blog.
I believe in a higher power. Whether it’s God, the Universe, or a loved one who has passed and is now my celestial guide, I trust that I’m being guided and protected.
There are days I can’t trust myself, so I hand it over. I say, “Okay, you take this one. I need a snack.”
And you know what? That trust shifts everything. I stop trying to micromanage the universe and just let it hold me for a second.
6. I do the thing my anxiety told me not to do (and survive it!)
Here’s the sneaky trick: sometimes the only way to calm anxiety is to call its bluff.
Anxiety says, “Don’t go to that event. Something bad will happen.”
I go. Nothing bad happens. I have fun and eat a cupcake. That’s exposure therapy, intentionally doing the thing that makes you anxious, to prove your anxiety is full of shit.
It’s not easy. But every time I do, whether it’s going to a doctor’s appointment, sending a scary email, or walking into a room alone, I feel proud. I feel strong. And most importantly, I feel like I took the power back.
Final Thoughts
These six things don’t mean my anxiety is gone. But they help me ride the wave without getting pulled under. Healing is a process. It’s loud. It’s uncomfortable. Sometimes it’s sweaty. But it’s also beautiful.
So here’s to doing the weird stuff that helps us feel normal again.
You’re not alone. You’re not broken. You’re healing
