As I'm writing this, spring has finally sprung in most of the country, so maybe some of you have had this same experience lately. I was wandering around the yard with my dog, and the thick, deep green grass started calling to me. I don’t wander around outside barefoot very often, and when I do, I’m usually on cement. But since the weather was warm and I was wearing sandals, I stepped out of them and dragged my feet through the grass.
It felt so cool and velvety that I immediately wondered why I don’t do it more often. And not only did it feel good, but there’s some interesting science behind the benefits of touching the earth with your skin. Why I don’t enjoy the grass on my feet more often is beyond me.
(Oh yeah - because wanting to do something and doing it aren't the same thing!)
Earthing, or grounding, is the practice of making direct contact between your body and the earth’s surface—grass, soil, sand, or natural water. The idea behind it is that the body carries electrical charge, and the earth has its own natural charge. Some researchers believe that direct contact with the ground may allow electrons to flow between the earth and the body, which could influence processes related to stress, inflammation, circulation, and recovery.
The research is still early, so for now, earthing is best thought of as a simple, low-risk wellness habit with emerging evidence, not a proven medical treatment. And it's worth noting that most earthing studies haven't looked at the effect of bare feet on the ground, they've evaluated the effects of grounding mats, patches, or sheets.
That's partly because those products are easier to study in controlled trials—you can compare a real mat to a placebo mat that looks the same. There's also a financial incentive to build evidence around products, which is useful to keep in mind as this area of research grows.
Still, the research is interesting. A 2025 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study found that people using an earthing mat for 31 days showed improvements in insomnia severity, daytime sleepiness, stress scores, and total sleep time compared with a control group.
Another small study in preterm infants found that electrical grounding increased vagal tone, a marker tied to autonomic nervous system regulation, while the grounding sheet was in place.
There's less research on grounding the body directly through skin-on-ground contact, even though that’s the most natural version of the practice. So while mats and sheets are worth mentioning, I’m personally much more interested in the original version: stepping outside and letting your body reconnect with the natural world for a few minutes.
Even beyond the earthing science, there’s something meaningful about touching the ground. We’ve talked before about the physical, mental, and emotional benefits of being outdoors. This practice adds another layer. So much of modern life pulls us indoors, onto hard surfaces, into shoes, and away from the textures and sensations that used to be part of everyday life.
Earthing may help regulate the body in subtle ways, but it can also do something beautifully simple: slow you down, bring you into the present, and remind you that nature is not separate from you. That alone is a benefit.
Here's your Ultimate You challenge.
This is such an easy one - stand barefoot in grass for 10 minutes at least twice this week.
No yard? No problem. You can slip off your shoes in a park or any grassy area and meet the challenge quietly and unobtrusively.
Rain? Bring an umbrella and a towel. If the electrical-conduction theory is part of what interests you about groundling, moisture may actually help, since damp ground conducts electrons better than dry ground.
As you stand there in direct contact with the ground, notice the temperature, texture, softness, and how your body feels before and after standing in the grass. If you enjoy this experience as much as I did, establish some reminders to help you turn this practice into a regular habit.
Wellness doesn’t need to be complicated. Sometimes it’s as simple as taking a moment to take off your shoes, step into the grass, and reconnect with something steady, natural, and bigger than yourself.
Your body may benefit from the contact, and your mind may benefit from the pause. Either way, you’ll have given yourself a few grounded minutes in a world that too often pulls us away from the earth beneath us.
In health and happiness,
If you'd like to get future articles like this one delivered straight to your inbox, register here.
