🦆 CHILL THE DUCK OUT

Volume 007: Touch grass, save your brain.

🌱 Cold Open

At our house, “touch grass” isn’t just a meme. It’s a full-blown parenting strategy.

My son’s a gamer - like, next-level, headset-on, shout-at-the-teammates-from-his-room kind of gamer. And while we love his passion (and his surprising leadership skills when commanding digital squads), sometimes we have to gently remind him that the outside world… still exists.

So, we’ve turned outings into an inside joke:
“Time to touch grass,” we’ll say. “Maybe even dirt. Or sand, if you’re feeling wild.”

Here’s the wild part: it works.

We get him to the beach or the marsh, barefoot on the Earth, and within minutes, he’s a different kid. Lighter. Calmer. Happier. Like the pixels fall away and his nervous system just exhales.

Turns out, this isn’t just crunchy parenting or wishful thinking. It’s backed by science.

This week, we’re talking about grounding — the act of connecting your bare skin to the Earth (yes, literally) and how it can help reduce stress, improve sleep, and remind your body that it’s not just a floating brain surrounded by group texts.

Let’s get grounded. Maybe even a little muddy.

🧠 The Science Bit

Grounding (also known as “earthing,” if you want to sound like you moonlight at a wellness retreat) may sound like something dreamed up by a guy named Sage who sells amethyst bath bombs at the farmers market.

But here’s the plot twist: There’s emerging science that says walking barefoot on the Earth might actually do your nervous system a solid.

The concept is simple: connect your skin, usually your feet, directly to natural surfaces like grass, sand, or soil. No shoes, no socks, no complicated gear. Just you, the planet, and a little bit of faith that maybe, just maybe, Mother Nature knows what she’s doing.

Some early studies (small but intriguing) have shown potential benefits like:

• More balanced cortisol patterns, which support better stress regulation

• Improved sleep onset and duration (aka falling asleep faster and staying there longer)

• Modest changes in heart rate variability, a marker of nervous system resilience

• And early looks at inflammation markers, which are connected to everything from sore muscles to mood

From a physics perspective, the Earth carries a mild negative charge, and researchers hypothesize that direct contact might allow a flow of electrons into the body — kind of like plugging your emotions into a biological power outlet.

Is it proven? Not entirely.
Is it promising? Enough to kick your shoes off and try it.

A 2019 study published in the Journal of Inflammation Research found that participants who practiced grounding for several weeks reported improvements in sleep compared to control groups. The sample was small, but the potential? Kinda exciting.

What makes grounding interesting isn’t just the science, it’s the accessibility.
You don’t need fancy equipment or a biohacking budget. It costs nothing, takes five minutes, and comes with the bonus of actual sunshine and fewer emails.

And while grounding isn’t a replacement for therapy, sleep hygiene, or calling your best friend back, it might just be one more gentle, free tool in your well-being toolkit. One bare step at a time.

🍟 This Week’s Happytizer

Ditch the shoes. Find the Earth.
Take five barefoot minutes and touch something real. Like, actual ground.

Options include:

• Grass (classic)

• Sand (soft chaos)

• Dirt (nature’s exfoliant)

• That weird patch by your mailbox that technically counts as a lawn

Bonus points if you whisper, “I return to the soil to reboot my soul,” and then pretend not to laugh.

👣 Before You Ground Yourself, Ground Your Mind

We’re all about touching grass in this issue, but let’s not forget to touch base with what’s happening in the world too (without spiraling into doomscroll despair).

That’s where 1440 comes in. It’s a free daily newsletter that delivers the facts. No clickbait, no drama, no emotional whiplash. Just smart, balanced updates across news, culture, and science. It’s like barefoot news for your brain: grounded, refreshing, and surprisingly calming.

Daily News for Curious Minds

Be the smartest person in the room by reading 1440! Dive into 1440, where 4 million Americans find their daily, fact-based news fix. We navigate through 100+ sources to deliver a comprehensive roundup from every corner of the internet – politics, global events, business, and culture, all in a quick, 5-minute newsletter. It's completely free and devoid of bias or political influence, ensuring you get the facts straight. Subscribe to 1440 today.

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🎉 Unsolicited Joy of the Week

In Seattle, one writer found an unlikely source of calm during a chaotic time: barefoot walks through neighborhood parks.

What started as a slightly awkward mental health exercise — feet in grass, squirrels judging silently — turned into a full-on emotional reboot. She began noticing birds. Naming crows. Thanking spiders. It was weird. It was healing. It worked.

Proof that touching grass isn’t just a meme. It’s a gentle, grounding act of defiance against burnout.

📖 Read the full story on The Seattle Collegian

💬 Tell me what kind of dirt you're into

Got a favorite grounding spot? Prefer beach sand to crunchy leaves? Wanna start a barefoot club? Let’s hear it.

📩 [email protected]

Oh, and if this brought you even 1% more chill, forward it to a friend…
or I’ll show up barefoot on your lawn whispering facts about soil conductivity.

🫶 Duckin’ Done

That’s Volume 007.
Here’s to unplugging, unsocking, and getting your electrons in order - one bare foot at a time.

Until next time: breathe deep, step gently, and chill the duck out.

— Jason

🧐 Behind the Curtain

This issue was proudly powered by dirt, science, and one too many tabs open. Here’s where the facts came from:

• Chevalier, G. et al. (2012). Earthing: Health Implications of Reconnecting the Human Body to the Earth's Surface Electrons. Journal of Environmental and Public Health.

• Ghaly, M. & Teplitz, D. (2004). The Biologic Effects of Grounding the Human Body During Sleep. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.

• Brown, D. et al. (2010). Earthing: The Most Important Health Discovery Ever?. (Okay, dramatic title, but interesting data inside.)