Do you remember that bizarre phase from a decade ago called Planking?

When people would just drop and lay on the ground wherever they were? 

It was weird. But I'm bringing it back. This time, as a mental health tool. 

We’ve got a global pandemic, civil unrest to finally get justice for people of color, economic upheaval, and murder hornets. Sandwich these with not being able to go anywhere and iLearning, and it’s created absolute mayhem. 

With stress skyrocketing we could all use some brand new tools for calming the eff down. 
I’ve been practicing this new-old tool a few times a week and it’s made all the difference. ​

Try it out yourself. 
When you feel anxiety build and your heart start race, your muscles get fluttery, and breathing gets shallow, go outside. Yes, even if you’re right in the middle of doing something or in the middle of a sentence with your spouse- walk away. Okay maybe if you’re talking to someone, say that you need a moment before just bolting. 
 Go outside and find a patch of grass. If you have options for your location, choose a more private one like a backyard, so no passersby call an ambulance thinking you’re unconscious. 
 Then lay down flat (I prefer on my back, but you do you). Just get as much of your body  touching the earth as possible and focus on your breathing. Allow yourself to be held by the land. Realize the Earth is always there for you- nourishing you with food, holding you when times get hard, and never ever judging you. 
 Within a few minutes you’ll notice your heart rate slow to match with the heartbeat of the planet.

Steady and constant. Lub - dub…………….Lub - dub…………….Lub - dub
 It’s super effective.
It’s also totally free. Unless someone calls an ambulance, then you may have to pay a fee for a false alarm. 
 Go try it out before you get stressed, so you can get the feel of it. 
And feel free to forward this a friend who may need some new, kind of weird stress relievers.