We all have moments of anxiety, but that doesn’t mean we can’t take steps to manage it. One such strategy is a grounding exercise called “5-4-3-2-1.” When feeling overwhelmed and anxious, this exercise helps shift focus to your current environment and away from the source of your stress. It also interrupts unhealthy thought patterns and encourages mindful awareness. Let’s break it down and see how it works.

The 5-4-3-2-1 exercise involves scanning the area around you for:

5 items that you can see,

4 things you can physically feel,

3 things you can hear,

2 things you can smell, and

1 thing you can taste.

This could be anything—the fabric of a shirt sleeve on your arm; the sound of birds chirping outside; the smell of freshly brewed coffee; or the taste of a piece of a mint in your mouth.

It is important to be mindful during this exercise so as to really experience what is going on around you in the present moment. This means avoiding distractions like checking social media while participating in this exercise. Also remember that it is okay if your thoughts wander—just take note and bring yourself back to focusing on the task at hand.

The key is being conscious about what you are experiencing in each moment and allowing yourself to draw strength from those experiences—ultimately helping you gain control over your anxious thoughts and feelings.

By shifting your focus away from whatever is causing anxious feelings and towards the present moment, we can give ourselves an opportunity to observe our environment through all five senses and find peace in even the most stressful situations. Whether it's looking around, tuning into physical sensations or simply taking note of smells throughout space - these exercises provide an effective way for us to step back from our anxious thoughts, slow down time and ground ourselves in reality. With practice and patience, this technique will become more natural over time so don't hesitate - try shifting your focus today!