Deliberate Movement

In your 20s and 30s, we live in frequent transition with new jobs, changing relationships, moves, uncertainty, and pressure to “figure it all out.” When stress or anxiety builds, we often try to think our way through it. Grounding starts by gently coming back to the body. Movement can help us reconnect with ourselves, especially when emotions feel overwhelming, thoughts are racing, or we feel disconnected from our own needs. At Growing Sideways Therapy, Lisa Howard encourages movement as you are able—small, intentional ways of reconnecting with yourself through the body.

Movement can be done seated, standing, or lying down, whatever makes sense for you. It does not have to mean an intense workout or structured routine. Try this: sit with your feet flat on the ground. Slowly lift your heels while pressing your toes into the floor, noticing your calves engage. Lower your heels back down. Try slowly raising and lowering them. Take a breath out. Notice the sensation in your body, the pressure, the movement, the feeling of support beneath you. Becoming aware of your body in this way can help bring you back to the present moment.

Other grounding movements might include pressing your palms together and noticing the pressure, gently stretching your neck and shoulders, standing and slowly shifting your weight from one foot to the other, or taking a short walk while noticing the feeling of your feet meeting the ground. The goal is not to do movement “perfectly,” but to notice what happens in your body with curiosity and care. There is no perfect path, only the one that is uniquely yours. Together, therapy can be a space to slow down, reconnect, and explore what grounding looks like for you.