Can Earthing Help Improve Concentration in People with ADHD?
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is characterized by difficulties with focus, impulsivity, and restlessness. Those with ADHD often struggle to concentrate on tasks and manage their energy. While medications and therapy can be effective, many people explore complementary approaches to further support concentration and calm.
One natural method gaining interest is grounding (or earthing) – the practice of physically connecting with the Earth’s surface, usually by going barefoot on grass, soil, or sand. Advocates of grounding suggest that this simple habit might soothe the nervous system and improve mental clarity.
Here, we examine whether earthing techniques could help people with ADHD find a bit more focus and tranquillity.
What Is Grounding (Earthing)?
Grounding means connecting your body directly with the Earth so that free electrons can flow into the body. This can be as simple as walking barefoot on the lawn or beach. Modern life often insulates us from direct Earth contact (think rubber-soled shoes and high-rise buildings), so grounding is thought to restore a lost natural balance.
Preliminary research has found that sleeping while grounded helped normalise people’s nighttime cortisol levels (a key stress hormone) and improved their sleep and overall stress levels. Since chronic stress and poor sleep tend to worsen ADHD symptoms, these findings hint that earthing could indirectly benefit those with ADHD by reducing some of these aggravating factors.
How Does Grounding Help With ADHD?
ADHD is often accompanied by a heightened stress response and difficulty with emotional regulation. Grounding might help calm an overactive mind by dialling down the body’s stress signals. In one experimental study, adults who spent time grounded showed significant reductions in tension, stress, and mood disturbances compared to those who weren’t grounded. In essence, their nervous systems became calmer.
If earthing can produce even a small calming effect, it may help someone with ADHD feel less fidgety and more able to focus. Additionally, grounding’s impact on sleep can directly aid concentration: a well-rested brain is naturally better at attention and impulse control. By helping people get deeper, more refreshing sleep (as some grounding studies suggest), earthing may set the stage for improved daytime focus and steadier mood.
Nature, Earthing, and Attention
It’s well documented that spending time in nature benefits people with ADHD. A notable study found that children with ADHD were able to concentrate better after a 20-minute walk in a green park, compared to a walk in an urban setting. Being barefoot outdoors might combine this “green time” advantage with the added grounding effect.
Many parents anecdotally report that kids seem calmer and more attentive after playing shoeless in the yard or on the beach. The act of touching grass or soil with bare feet provides gentle sensory input and a connection to nature that can help settle a racing mind. This kind of natural break – feeling the cool earth, listening to birds, taking deep breaths – can refocus attention and reduce restlessness, even if only temporarily.
Of course, grounding is not a cure for ADHD, and it shouldn’t replace conventional treatments. Think of it as a supportive tool. Incorporating earthing into daily routines – for example, a few minutes of barefoot playtime in the morning or a quiet moment sitting on the ground after school or work – can serve as a calming ritual. These moments of connection with the Earth may help release tension and provide a mental “reset.”
Over time, such practices might improve self-regulation by regularly nudging the body toward a more relaxed state.
Conclusion
Grounding is a simple practice that might offer modest focus and calming benefits for people with ADHD. Early studies show that earthing can reduce physiological stress and improve sleep quality, both of which are key for better concentration and mood stability. While more research is needed specifically on ADHD, grounding is low-risk and easy to try. Walking barefoot on safe natural surfaces or using grounding mats are practical ways to experiment.
Many individuals describe feeling “more centered” or relaxed after grounding – outcomes that align with what someone with ADHD might need to settle their mind. In a fast-paced world full of distractions, intentionally reconnecting with the Earth may help an ADHD brain pause, reset, and tune in to the present moment.
It’s a natural addition to a holistic approach for managing ADHD, complementing other strategies in the journey toward improved focus and well-being.
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References
- Chevalier, G. (2015). The effect of grounding the human body on mood. Psychological Reports, 116(2), 534–542. DOI: 10.2466/06.PR0.116k21w5
- Faber Taylor, A., & Kuo, F. E. (2009). Children with attention deficits concentrate better after walk in the park. Journal of Attention Disorders, 12(5), 402–409. DOI: 10.1177/1087054708323000
- Ghaly, M., & Teplitz, D. (2004). The biologic effects of grounding the human body during sleep as measured by cortisol levels and subjective reporting of sleep, pain, and stress. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 10(5), 767–776. DOI: 10.1089/acm.2004.10.767
