NatNews

A recent TikTok trend has many individuals taking part in a practice that has actually been around for quite some time but has risen in popularity as more people have seen it on social media. While TikTok users call lying on the floor “floor time,” the method of what is commonly known as “grounding” allows people to reset and relax to reduce stress and anxiety.

Dallas resident and psychologist Kenleigh McMinn, Ph.D., said grounding techniques are intended to help a person’s mind and body focus on what is happening in the present moment.

“Stress and anxiety usually come from worrying about things that happened in the past or might happen in the future, so techniques that refocus your attention can help calm your mind and body,” she said.

And this is something that some individuals have incorporated into their regular routines for most of their lives. Grounding doesn’t always require a person to lie down, though. For Dallas-area resident Arinda Cale, it simply involves connecting with the earth below her.

“I’ve used grounding techniques long before I ever knew the term,” she said. “As a kid, I was always at my best when I could be out in nature running around barefoot. Now I understand that without even knowing it, I was using this practice to calm my nervous system.”

Cale said she practices grounding daily in some form but not always with intention, as she feels that doing so puts her back in alignment.

“When I go outside, put my bare feet on the earth, and take a deep breath, I recenter,” she said. “I can organize my thoughts, prioritize the tasks I need to accomplish, and generally just understand that I’m part of nature and that nature has perfect timing.”

Grounding techniques can include a variety of forms, such as lying on the floor and taking deep breaths, meditating, feeling your feet on the ground, lying or sitting while listening to calming music, counting backward from 10, repeating a calming phrase, and spending time focusing on your senses (what you see, hear, smell, feel, and taste) around you. McMinn said grounding strategies are a form of mindfulness that can be beneficial for anyone who tries them.

“It can take some practice, but taking a few minutes each day to get in touch with your thoughts and your body can help improve mood, anxiety, stress, and feeling more connected in your life, in general,” she said. “A lot of the time, the things we do to ‘relax’ actually disconnect us (think mindless scrolling), so this can be a way to get back in touch.”

While grounding can look different for different people, the specific technique of floor time currently becoming more common involves lying or sitting on the floor to soothe oneself. Doing so can improve circulation, help one connect with the present moment, tune out distressing thoughts, and create a calming presence in a racing mind. Dallas-area resident Adrian Acevedo said he typically either goes for a walk or cooks when he’s feeling anxious in order to get his mind off of whatever is stressing him out, but he would be willing to take part in floor time.

“As long as the floor is clean, I think doing those types of exercises or resting would be something good to try,” he said. “I might also need someone there to guide me through it.”

In addition to the trend resulting from TikTok users encouraging floor time, Acevedo said he thinks people’s acceptance and enjoyment of this relaxation method relates to feelings of nostalgia.

“Maybe it goes back to being a kid, and whenever you were stressed or anxious, you would lie on the floor, and you would just chill,” he said.

McMinn said regardless of the reason behind the increase in frequency of people taking time to ground themselves and reset, the popularity of this technique can certainly have positive effects.

“It can be a good relaxation option because it’s simple—everyone has access to a floor,” she said.

Whether you’re lying on the floor or using another form of grounding, such a practice can help boost a person’s mood and regulate emotions. There’s also no specific amount of time required for its effectiveness, though it is typically best not to become so relaxed that you begin to fall asleep. What’s most important, though, is that you find what works best for you.

“I think grounding helps me stay in the present moment,” Cale said. “It may not take all of the stress or anxiety away, but connecting with the earth and taking a few deep breaths provides relief in the moment and helps me prioritize my thoughts and tasks. When I feel like I have a plan, I feel less stressed and less anxious.”

Adult hippos eat approximately 80 pounds of grass each night and travel up to 6 miles in a night while doing so.

While talking on the phone with friends, family members, and significant others was a common social and communication activity in the days of yore, many individuals (particularly Gen Zers and millennials) opt not to spend much time gabbing in such a way.

A recent NatNews research initiative revealed that of those dear readers who participated in the online survey, 36 percent don’t mind people calling them anytime, 13 percent essentially do not ever want to be called, and 51 percent indicated that they sometimes like talking on the phone or that it depends on the situation or people with whom they are chatting. Dallas resident Elizabeth Cruz said she enjoys talking on the phone and doesn’t mind when she sees her device light up with an incoming call.

“It feels more connected and intentional,” she said. “I can have more of a real conversation.”

Some people admit to experiencing phone anxiety when making or receiving calls, and many individuals generally prefer the convenience and more casual interaction texting offers. And others, including Dallas resident Kim May Armitstead, feel that phone calls add an additional layer of stress after long days that include significant time making or taking calls.

“I don’t love talking to people on the phone because I spend my entire workday on the phone,” she said. “I need time to myself afterward to decompress.”

Texting allows individuals time to think or to put off responding immediately if they are unable to do so in the moment or simply do not want to at that time. When speaking on the phone, however, people are obviously expected to have more spontaneous, candid conversations that require more focus and dedication of time. For Dallas-area resident JT Gordon, that’s not an issue when he’s on the phone with the people who are most important in his life.

“I enjoy talking to close family and friends on the phone because I value time with loved ones,” he said.

Many individuals, though, appreciate a heads-up text checking to see if it’s a good time to call to show consideration for a person’s time and schedule. Gordon, who admits to still having a pager, said he would prefer a text before someone calls him in case he is busy at the time and so that he is not caught off guard.

“That allows me to prepare myself, if needed,” he said.

But not everyone needs such a warning. Cruz said she is not bothered by a phone call that comes without a pre-call text.

“It’s not like they are showing up at my house unannounced,” she said. “If I can’t answer, I’ll just call back when I’m available.”

And even though she doesn’t necessarily want to talk on the phone much, May Armitstead would also rather a person simply call her than text her to ask if it’s a good time to talk.

“If it’s not OK, I just won’t answer,” she said.

Like Cruz and May Armitstead, Dallas resident Mark Olateju doesn’t need a person to text him prior to giving him a ring. He said he enjoys talking on the phone but only to close friends or a potential date.

“I come from an older generation that talked on the phone before there was texting, so many of us became used to that and didn’t transition well to texting,” he said.

Olateju also said he believes that fewer people talking on the phone nowadays is the result of generational habits and expectations. He does, however, appreciate the benefits that other forms of communication can provide.

“The younger generation (under 35) is more disconnected from deeper, more committed relationships,” he said. “They also grew up during a social media era in which texting is the norm. For me personally, many ladies outtalk or overtalk me, so texting gives me a chance to respond.”

While a quick phone call can be convenient in situations that involve immediacy (e.g., you’re in an unfamiliar place and trying to find someone), texting and communication within various social media platforms have allowed people to take their time, not feel as much pressure as a phone call might cause, and escape from feelings of overload for a bit.

“I think our whole lives are built around virtual connections all day, and it’s exhausting,” May Armitstead said.

That same feeling of exhaustion can also occur for those who would prefer to talk on the phone more rather than text. Though it is simply a matter of preference regarding how individuals would like to communicate, Cruz said she thinks the decrease in desire to talk on the phone has resulted from individuals becoming accustomed to being behind screens so often.

“You can also be less engaged if you’re texting versus when you’re talking on the phone,” she said. “You can be watching TV, on social media, etc. and having a text convo at the same time. It’s harder to do that when you’re expected to have a back-and-forth conversation that flows.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

In this candid photo, the NatNews staff, our sole investor, and some dear readers celebrated dear reader Lyndsey Kohn’s birthday

Monday, February 24: National Tortilla Chip Day
Tuesday, February 25: Mavs vs. Lakers Watch Party at Happiest Hour; Free Rooftop Movie — Wicked at Sundown at Granada (rescheduled from last week due to weather); Broadway Dallas — Hadestown begins at Music Hall at Fair Park; Dallasites101 Speed Dating & Singles Mixer (ages 27–37) at Dave & Buster’s
Wednesday, February 26: Kelsea Ballerini at Dickies Arena; Joe Savage at The Rustic
Thursday, February 27: Mahjong & Meze at Nikki Greek Bistro & Lounge
Friday, February 28: Stars vs. Kings at the American Airlines Center; Taylor Swift Tribute — Reputation at Legacy Hall; North Texas Irish Festival at Fair Park (goes through Sunday); Fort Worth Music Festival at Fort Worth Stockyards (goes through Sunday)
Saturday, March 1: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; Mavs vs. Bucks at the American Airlines Center; Community Beer Co. Cycling Group Ride; The Three Little Pigs at Winspear Opera House
Sunday, March 2: Stars vs. Blues at the American Airlines Center; DMA FREE First Sundays — Access for All at the Dallas Museum of Art