“Go touch grass,” is a popular way to insult someone for spending too much time online. The implication being that they have become disconnected to the real world. I admit, it’s an excellent burn, but I wanted to find out if there is any truth to it. Can the physical act of touching grass actually help your mental health?
I recently learned about the Japanese concept of shinrin-yoku or ‘forest bathing,’ It means taking time out from city life to visit the forest and take in the sights and sounds of the natural environment. The practice has both physical and mental health benefits like reducing stress, and recalibrating circadian rhythms. It stands to reason that touching grass might have similar effects.
Studies suggest that it does, but as with most health claims, scammers like to exaggerate their scope and effectiveness in order to sell products. A whole industry has cropped up around the notion of making physical contact with the ground a.k.a. ‘Grounding’ or ‘Earthing.’ to absorb the earth’s energy (electrons). They claim everything from reducing inflammation to curing disease.
Let’s be real. Walking around outside with bare feet is not going to cure cancer, but it will probably put you in a noticeably better mood and perhaps help give you better quality sleep. This exercise is also useful for clearing one’s head and sharpening concentration. Best selling author and literary icon, Stephen King takes long walks as part of his creative process. Besides, it’s free and poses no danger unless you step in doggie doo.
According to a statistic from the National Recreation and Park Association website, only fifty eight percent of US adults spend at least thirty minutes a day outside. How did we stray so far from mother earth? It seems that we may have paved ourselves into a corner like in Joni Mitchell’s song, “Big Yellow Taxi,” which contains the evocative lyric, “They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.”
The song was written in 1970, well before people began spending time online. Mitchell’s lyrics lament the destruction of the natural world in favor of capitalistic progress. The same issue affects us in the twenty-first century, but with the added threat of the time we spend online taking over our mental real estate. I don’t know about you, but I find myself increasingly unable to unplug because of the addictive nature of social media.
To illustrate my point, I’ll tell you about an embarrassing and painful incident I had recently. One day I was feeling cooped up and decided to go for a walk. I brought my phone, of course, and proceeded to check a few things online while I wandered around the neighborhood. I suddenly felt a tremendous excruciating thwack on the forehead as if I’d been struck by a blunt instrument.
No, it was not an assailant with a crowbar. I had inadvertently walked straight into some metal pipes that were sticking out of a flat bed truck. Of course, at that moment there was someone who witnessed my act of stupidity. He didn’t laugh, he actually seemed concerned. I held back tears to save face, laughed it off, and told him I was fine.
I know we all have the same struggle, maybe not as extreme as the example above, but many of us spend long stretches of time indoors looking at screens. This is not the way humans were meant to live. It seems ridiculous that we should need scheduled outdoor time like prison inmates, but maybe it’s necessary. Plus, if we all spend more time outdoors, maybe we’ll fight harder to preserve the environment that desperately needs our help.
About the Creator
Leslie Writes
Another struggling millennial. Writing is my creative outlet and stress reliever.
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Comments (30)
I love earthing, both in the grass at my local parks, and also in the sand at the beach. Great angles/well written.
https://vocal.media/motivation/my-life-is-a-lie-unti
Great article, thank you for sharing! I was a feral wild child when I was younger, and I still find that my mood is noticeably better when I spend time out in nature. I'm all for green spaces and returning to nature!
https://vocal.media/motivation/a-gift-e418z0rl4
I never knew the meaning of go touch grass, lol! This was just so fascinating and informative. Congratulations on your Top Story!
Intresting story of the day.I must share with you. https://vocal.media/lifehack/what-happens-when-you-die-oh1pd0jbd
This was such an interesting and insightful read! I definitely relate to needing to "touch grass"...I spend far too much time online and do need to get out more. I loved your end connection to getting out more and caring more for the environment 🥹❤️❤️ Well done and congrats on Top Story! 😍
There are some very nice trails close to where I live, I should spend more time hiking them
This is a great one, Leslie! Fortunately, I have 2 good-sized dogs that insist on playtime in the back yard a couple of times a day. I have to create breaks or I'm literally connected to the computer all day, editing and writing. I can relate to running into things, too.
Spending time outside is equally important as soending time online. I’ve had my head whacked a few times too. Great read. Thanks.
Wow this is great and insightful.. kids of nowadays like me( not that I am a kid I am in my mid twenties lol) have lost touch with Mother Nature. So of us have refused to experience what it feels like to live outside our screens.. it’s sad as to how common this is .. so to everyone living like this go touch grass. 🤝
Something so invigorating 😉💯❤️Congratulations On Your Top Story📝 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Great article. I think your last point may be the most compelling, the more time we spend in nature the more we might care about preserving it.
So true ❤️ Trying make sure I'm taking time every day to "touch grass." My pup helps me in that way. Well written and congratulations on Top story ❤️
I can relate to running into objects, you are not alone. Solid reminder that logging out has perks. Great piece!
The truth in this tho! And I love your free writing style. Excited to read more of your work outside sometime. Definitely not walking tho because yea I’ve ran into things before too 🤣🫶🏻I’m happy to say I’ve reduced my time on social medias and spend a bit more time outside after having a rough time a few months back. Maybe I should write on that cause it has been a game changer for my overall mental health.
Great work on this, Leslie! Thanks for sharing your perspective and agree that increasing our time away-from-screen(s)(s)(s) whenever feasible is a hugely healthy practice. 💚
Barefoot in the grass or dirt on mushrooms. Game changer.
I appreciate your honesty especially your story accidentally hitting the metal pipes ! Excellent article here, a well written and well deserved top story!
Yay! Congrats, Leslie!! ❤️❤️👏👏
A lot of excellent reminders and insights in this. I love to go outside, especially on a cooler day and just deeply inhale. Such a wonderful thing, but I don't do it often enough. Wonderfully written article :) Congratulations on Top Story!
Congratulations on your excellent Top Story
❤️💯📝
Anything that reduces stress will help mental / body health. The older I get, the less I use social media, and the more I spend time outdoors. I hope your head is ok, now. ;-) Thank you for this great article!
That little pug does look like he's just left a present to be stepped in 🤣 Really good piece, thank you