Sometimes life is overwhelming.


Grounding activities are designed to help ground yourself in the present moment and bring you to a place of calm. Below are five types of grounding techniques you can use with a Calming Captures photo or any nature photo.


Five Grounding Techniques:

  • Rainbow Method
  • Try the 5-4-3-2-1 method
  • Breathe deeply
  • Play a memory game
  • Visualize the place you see

Rainbow Grounding Method

Find a calming space with your photo. Begin to start looking to spot and name as many objects that match the colors of the rainbow as you can. If you can’t find an object of a specific color, think about something you like or are interested in that might be that color.


RED: What do I notice that is red?

ORANGE: What do I notice that is orange?

YELLOW: What do I notice that is yellow?     

GREEN: What do I notice that is green?

BLUE: What do I notice that is blue?

PURPLE: What do I notice that is purple?

Rainbow and the storm on the beach, pensacola beach, florida
Milky way over landscape arch red rocks in Utah

Breathe deeply

Slowly inhale, then exhale. If it helps, you can say or think “in” and “out” with each breath. Feel each breath filling your lungs and note how it feels to push it back out.


Yosemite Valley View during sunset, Yosemite National Park

Play a memory game

Look at a detailed photograph or picture for 5–10 seconds. Then, turn the photograph face-down and recreate the photograph in your mind in as much detail as possible. Or, you can mentally list all the things you remember from the picture.


Crisp Fall Day in New Hampshire

Visualize being at the place you see.

Using each of your senses, imagine the noises you hear, the objects you see, and the scents you smell. Think about what you’d do there and how it makes you feel.


Try the 5-4-3-2-1 method

Working backward from 5, use your senses to list things you notice around you. For example, you might start by listing:

5 things you hear

4 things you see

3 things you can touch from where you’re sitting

2 things you can smell

1 thing you can taste



Sandpiper sunset along Pensacola Beach

Save this post for the next time you need a stress reliever and to feel more present! In the meantime stay healthy and adventurous!


Peace & Love,

Erica