Techniques for Staying Grounded During Remote Work

You're building a digital prison without realizing it. Sitting at your desk. Staring at faces in boxes. Meeting after meeting. Your body wasn't designed for this. Your mind wasn't wired for constant screen time. Truth is, the "future of work" everyone talks about is killing your energy, creativity, and mental clarity. Here's what I do instead: • Audit my calendar • Identify mobile-friendly calls • Convert them to phone calls instead of Zooms • Create a simple walking route • Take the call while walking outside • Stack health + work simultaneously • Move my body throughout the day • Break free from the desk prison • Make movement the default After doing this I feel: • Higher energy levels • Clearer in my thinking • Better at having healthy conversations • More creative Most people think remote work = freedom. But if you're chained to your desk all day, you just traded one prison for another. Remember: Your productivity is directly tied to your physical and mental state. Build systems that serve both.

In this job market, it’s easy to feel constantly triggered by uncertainty, rejection, or the pressure to keep networking. I’ve learned through somatic therapy that our bodies often know we’re about to react before our minds catch up. Tuning into these subtle signals, even milliseconds before a reaction, can help us pivot from automatic responses to intentional ones. The mind-body connection matters! I've practiced somatic therapies like EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and Psych-K, which are powerful tools for getting in touch with the subconscious cues our bodies send us. These approaches help us reprocess old patterns, unlearn automatic reactions, and reprogram our responses, allowing us to show up with more presence and resilience. Here is a little info on both modalities. EMDR works by engaging both the brain and body to process memories and emotional triggers. It’s not just about talking through challenges but feeling and releasing them physically. EMDR can help reduce the emotional charge of rejection or setbacks, making it easier to move forward with clarity and confidence. Psych-K uses muscle testing and other techniques to communicate with the subconscious, identify limiting beliefs, and “rewrite” them. This process helps create a Whole-Brain State, making it easier to shift out of stress and into empowered action, even when facing job search anxiety or setbacks. When you get that visceral hit with your heart racing, stomach dropping, tension and resistance building, pause for a moment and: Notice the sensation - Where do you feel it in your body? Is it tightness in your chest, a knot in your stomach, or something else? Naming it helps you step out of autopilot. Ground yourself - Try grounding exercises like feeling your feet on the floor, taking a slow breath, or box breathing (breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 4, out for 4, hold for 4, repeat 4x), or gently pressing your fingertips together. This brings you back to the present and calms your nervous system. Ask what you need - Sometimes your body is asking for reassurance, movement, or a break. Listening to these cues helps you respond with care instead of reacting out of habit. Reframe the experience - If you’re facing rejection, remind yourself it’s not a reflection of your worth. Rejection is almost always protection or redirection! Use the moment to practice self-compassion and look for the lesson or growth opportunity, because what is meant for you will be for you. The more we practice listening to our bodies and responding instead of reacting, the more resilient we become. Somatic therapies give us practical tools to process stress, regulate emotions, and stay grounded, especially when the world feels out of control. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by networking or the sting of rejection, know that your body holds wisdom that can help you navigate these challenges with more ease and self-trust.

This Week, Try This: Hold Space for Calm, Connection, and Grounding Start with Yourself: Before engaging in tough conversations, take a few moments to center yourself. Try a couple of deep breaths, notice your feelings, and find your grounding. You can only bring others calm when you’re first grounded in yourself. 1. Pause Before You Speak Before jumping in, pause and consider: what could ground us here? It’s easy to get swept up in the need to be heard, but sometimes, the most powerful thing we can do is listen. A quick pause can change the tone of a conversation, creating room for trust and connection. This small practice can turn reactive moments into opportunities for grounding. Research from Gallup shows high-trust environments reduce burnout and improve decision-making—often starting with a purposeful moment of listening. (https://lnkd.in/ex4ig64B) 2. Gather to Regain Connection Everyone handles stress differently: some engage intensely, some pull back, and others hold on by a thread. When emotions run high, gather your team for a quick and restorative check-in to remember what grounds you. Shared practices, like a few deep breaths or talking about what motivates you about the future, can calm nerves, reset and refocus when things feel chaotic. 3. Set Boundaries That Ground You In tough times, pulling back or limiting engagement isn’t just okay—it’s essential. Boundaries help us stay grounded, effective, and calm, especially when emotions run high. Further, setting boundaries with curiosity can help us see frustration as a cue to turn up the dignity and respect—for ourselves and others. Leaders and Managers: Showing up is the job, especially when things feel unsteady. Burned-out team members, pushy clients, and relentless deadlines amid rising tensions call for a steady, open approach. And here’s a bonus: talking about the future with hope and optimism isn’t just nice—it’s a mental health booster! So go ahead and bring a bit of future thinking into your next team chat. Setting a calm tone helps us feel grounded and ready to move forward. This week, ask yourself: Am I entering each conversation with a clear mind? Am I creating space to listen, even when it’s tough? Will my words calm, connect, and refocus us? We can bring calm, connection, and grounding into our workplaces, communities, and ourselves, even when we disagree. We can create spaces that sustain us, not drain us. Remember: Regardless of the outcome, it’s up to us to build the future we deserve—one connection at a time. #electionreflections #grounding #wellbeing #leadership #management #futureofwork #daisyaugerdominguez