My “Earthing” Experience: Best or Bust? Real-World Results of Grounding

If you aren’t familiar with Earthing (aka Grounding), take a look at my first article “What is Earthing?“

If you ARE familiar with Earthing, but are questioning if it really works, then read on!

I’m always game for trying out fresh and organic self-care techniques, but I never really check if they’re actually doing the trick. I thought I’d give Earthing a whirl and document the transformation for a solid 2 weeks straight. Let’s see what kind of magic unfolds!

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With the cooler weather of fall upon us, I’ve decided to purchase a grounding mat. Until it arrives, I’ll be conducting my experiment outside.

Benefits of Earthing

Starting Point Before Earthing

For a quick starting reference on my routine…

I wake up at 4:30 am to get ready for the gym (I used to think that sounded crazy too!). I’m at the gym by 5:15 am, and home by 6:30 am to start the rest of my day. I have 1 kid under 18 in the home that I drive to school each day. I work close to home with a commute of less than 10 minutes. I spend anywhere from 2-4 hours a day on a computer outside of my job (as a licensed physical therapist assistant). I average 5-6 hours of sleep a night. I have no major aches, pains, or diagnoses. I don’t take any prescriptions (but I am a supplement junkie!).

My Earthing Goals

I’m typically a sound sleeper and am ready to go in the morning. I wake up a little stiff and achy first thing in the morning and move a little slowly. I’m hoping for improved sleep and will track that with my Fitbit sleep score and hours of sleep.

My other goal is general improvement in energy levels and decreased stress. I’m not too drastically high or low on those scales, but would appreciate some improvements.

Earthing Daily Dose

It’s fall. And it’s chilly. So the grounding efforts for the first 4 days were a little stifled. However, I did manage 10 minutes of sitting outside (on a cushion on my driveway) with my bare feet on the ground.

Day 1. After work, I grounded for 10 minutes. Afterwards, I felt incredibly relaxed (like getting a massage), and immediately went inside to take a nap. I slept hard and woke an hour later feeling like I was climbing my way out of a coma. Maybe I was already tired, to begin with…

Night 1: SLEEP SCORE: 64 | SLEEP TIME: 5hr 59mins | NAP: Yes

Day 2. I decided to ground before work. It didn’t seem to have any notable effects on how I felt at the moment or throughout the day. My mornings are generally very busy, but not necessarily stressful or low energy. So maybe that explains why I didn’t notice a difference.

Night 2: SLEEP SCORE: 66 | SLEEP TIME: 5hr 4mins | NAP: No

Day 3. I grounded after work again and immediately felt centered and re-energized. I think I noticed the effects of grounding more so in the evenings and will make it my goal time to perform Earthing.

Night 3: SLEEP SCORE: 64 | SLEEP TIME: 5hr 9mins | NAP: No

Day 4. I sat on the sidewalk again, with my feet on the ground for 15 minutes. This time I grounded with my very supportive, but somewhat reluctant boyfriend (he’s a champ!). It was late in the evening and I was getting irritable, but felt much less so after grounding (and talking with him).

Night 4: SLEEP SCORE: 60 | SLEEP TIME: 4hr 46mins | NAP: No

Day 5. My grounding mat finally arrived!! I immediately took it out of the box and set it up underneath my work desk.

I got in 30 minutes of grounding on the mat and then slept with the mat on the bed that night. I laid the mat perpendicular to the mattress so that my feet would be touching the mat as I slept.

I woke up feeling refreshed and immediately ready to go. My sleep was improved, but this might also be the effect of being at someone else’s house for the weekend night and being able to sleep longer and wake up with no alarm.

Night 5: SLEEP SCORE: 71 | SLEEP TIME: 6hr 32mins | NAP: No

Day 6. Another morning of waking up and feeling ready to start the day. The sleep numbers are better, but it was also another weekend morning of being able to sleep until I was ready to get up.

Night 6: SLEEP SCORE: 73 | SLEEP TIME: 6hr 55mins | NAP: No

Day 7. Last night was a rare night of lying in bed for hours trying to fall asleep. Although, when I fell asleep I slept deep and well. I skipped my 5 am workout to make up for falling asleep so late.

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Night 7: SLEEP SCORE: 72 | SLEEP TIME: 5hr 16mins | NAP: No

Day 8. I had very limited hours sleeping last night but I still felt decent. I stayed up too late and got up early because there were so many things to get done! But I’m sleeping well and taking afternoon cat naps as needed

Night 8: SLEEP SCORE: 54 | SLEEP TIME: 4hr 12mins | NAP: Yes

Day 9. Last night was the least amount of sleep (in terms of hours), that I have had for some time. But I feel good and think I will make it just fine with an afternoon catnap. My Fitbit sleep score isn’t reflecting it, but I feel like I’m sleeping better. I’m certainly waking up easier and am quicker to get ready and start the day.

Night 9: SLEEP SCORE: 62 | SLEEP TIME: 4hr 25mins | NAP: Yes

Day 10. I’m staying super busy, but I feel good if I get an afternoon catnap when I sleep less than 5 hours at night. I move my grounding mat underneath my workstation during the day (for my morning and afternoon computer times), and then place it on my bed each night.

Night 10: SLEEP SCORE: 75 | SLEEP TIME: 5hr 49mins | NAP: Yes

Day 11. I got plenty of sleep last night because it’s Thanksgiving! I was able to sleep in since there was no work and the gym was closed.

Night 11: SLEEP SCORE: 81 | SLEEP TIME: 7hr 51mins | NAP: No

“I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles.” 

Anne Frank

Day 12. The Earthing experience changed up just a little today. We took off on a camping trip and were able to get in some natural Earthing (hiking, climbing rocks, sitting on bluffs and overlooks). Although sleeping in a campervan didn’t feel like extra good sleep (and I woke every 2 hours or so), my sleep score was up to 75. This makes me think the Fitbit sleep score might not be all that accurate of a way to record my sleep data.

Night 12: SLEEP SCORE: 75 | SLEEP TIME: 8hr 5mins | NAP: No

Day 13. Back home, and back to the grounding mat for another morning of sleeping in (in my own comfy, cozy bed). The day was busy, with minimal computer work, so the only Earthing I got was while sleeping.

Night 13: SLEEP SCORE: 73 | SLEEP TIME: 7hr 29mins | NAP: No

Day 14. My sleep has continued to be longer than usual because of the 4 day holiday weekend allowing me to sleep in (and no morning workouts at the gym). However, I got in some extra outdoor hiking and play time for some natural exercise and grounding. Tomorrow will be back to the normal schedule.

Night 14: SLEEP SCORE: 68 | SLEEP TIME: 4hr 23mins | NAP: No

Final Thoughts on Earthing

I was a bit disappointed that I wasn’t able to get objective data from my Fitbit to support the claim of better sleep. Although, it is just a Fitbit… The chart below shows my weekly average Fitbit sleep score from pre-Earthing (weeks 1 and 2) and my average score post-Earthing (weeks 3 and 4). Roughly the same sleep score average.

Here’s what I do know– I FEEL like I have slept better, with a higher quality of sleep. My nights of low hours of sleep (less than 5 hours) do not seem to have as drastic of an effect on me as they did pre-Earthing. I wake up feeling a bit more refreshed and ready to tackle the day.

I also feel more relaxed and less anxious while using the grounding mat in the afternoon and evenings while I work on my computer. The effects seem to last for the rest of the evening after I complete a 30-minute session.

Maybe it’s the placebo effect. Maybe not. However, I strongly believe that if you THINK something is working, then it is (and vice versa). So for me, I think (and therefore FEEL) the grounding mat is having a positive effect on my mind and body.

“It is true if you believe it to be true.”

Louise L. Hay

I ultimately will continue to use the grounding mat while sitting at my desk and while sleeping at night. I’ll purchase another, smaller grounding mat to keep under my work desk to avoid the hassle of moving my one mat back and forth between the computer desk and bed.

Another odd observation I made throughout this process, my older cat (14 years old) absolutely loves sleeping on the grounding mat. Maybe because he’s strange. Or maybe he can feel a difference too…

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