Last week, someone taught me a grounding tool that’s really simple, but it works almost instantly.
It’s for those moments when your mind is racing, you’re overthinking, and everything just feels stressful.
And trust me, I know that feeling.
Here’s how it works:
Start at 100 and count backwards by 3’s.
Keep going until your mind feels calmer.
Like this:
100, 97, 94, 91, 88, and so on.
Why this works for anxiety and overthinking
When your mind is racing, it’s easy to get caught up in “what if” thoughts.
Counting backwards by 3’s forces your brain to focus on something specific - math.
It’s just challenging enough to stop the spiral of anxious thoughts, but not so hard that you can’t do it anywhere.
It’s a quick mindset shift: instead of worrying about the future or replaying the past, you’re brought back to the present moment.
This is what makes it such a powerful calming tool for adults (or anyone really).
Tips for making it even more effective
- Pair it with slow, deep breathing
- Sit somewhere comfortable and uncluttered
- If you get stuck, just start again from 100 - no pressure to be "perfect"
- Try closing your eyes to block out distractions
How to do this with your fidget ring
When I do this grounding exercise, I like to spin my fidget ring as I count because it helps when I’m feeling anxious.
The movement adds a second sensory element (touch) which makes it even easier to stay grounded.
One of the reasons I started this fidget jewelry brand is because fidget rings aren’t just jewelry.
They are grounding tools you can wear every day.
Whether you get stressed at work, school, or wherever, they’re a gentle reminder to slow down, breathe, and focus on the moment.
Next time your thoughts start racing, try this grounding exercise, and let me know what you think.
I hope this helps.
❤️
Bianca
P.S. When I wrote this blog, I was wearing my Arise amazonite fidget ring. I found this fidget ring extra helpful with this grounding exercise.