Time to Touch Grass?
Sometimes the simplest wellness habits are the easiest to overlook. Case in point: grounding (also called earthing), which is exactly what it sounds like—making direct skin-to-earth contact by walking barefoot on grass, sand, or soil. Overall, it’s a practice that many have adapted as a way of reducing stress (it's an automatic break from technology), but studies conducted over the past 20 years also show that taking time to “touch grass” may also lower nighttime cortisol, reduce inflammation, and improve sleep quality.
The science is still emerging, and most of the studies have been small, so it's too soon to draw firm conclusions.
Here’s how it works: Researchers believe that direct contact with the earth allows free electrons to transfer into the body, which may help reduce oxidative stress and inflammation—two factors that can disrupt the body's natural hormonal rhythms, including cortisol.
Try this today: Kick off your shoes and spend 10 minutes barefoot on grass, sand, or soil. Whether it's your backyard, a local park, or the beach, consider it a mini reset for both your mind and body.
