Feet on the Floor
A deceptively simple grounding technique that can be used before, during, or after a stressful event.
Simple doesn’t mean it’s not powerful.
The pace, content and competing demands of the modern workplace has left many of us operating in constant stress and overdrive. This elevated stress state is challenged further with added pressures and trauma exposure.
Eventually we can find ourselves shutting down and numbing out because our bodies are not built to function in this high-energy state for extended periods of time. As a result, we see many negative physical, emotional, behavioural, and relational consequences in the workplace.
This grounding technique is a simple and portable strategy you can use to help yourself through difficult moments.
Resources to Learn More
Read Bouncing Back: Rewiring Your Brain for Maximum Resilience and Well-being by Linda Graham.
Enroll in our Staying Grounded in Stressful Work: On-Demand Course for more strategies.
Thank you for this technique and describing it in a way anyone could understand. I am currently a practicum student at the St. Vincent Anderson Center working with the outpatient chemical dependency clients. I will discuss with my supervisor about incorporating this into our breathing exercise.
Thanks,
Hannah Karkosky, BSW
Very nice. Do you have a transcript of this technique that you would be willing to share?
Thank you so much for your humor and humanity. THIS was healing to hear and I cannot tell u how much I needed to hear it. Please take care of your and yours during this difficult time!
Beautiful and simple. A nice variation on mindfulness instead of focussing on the breath, but focus on the feet while standing is a great alternative.
Thanks Diana,
~ hugs from your old friend Rebecca xo