I have spent a lot of time over the years sorting out the things that I find grounding. As comforts go, in a time of crisis, these are the things that help me to return to a calmer state of mind and emotion. But they are not always obvious. These touchstones had to be winnowed out from among the default coping mechanisms that often appeal to me in the moment, but are later revealed to do me no lasting good. (I’m looking at you, stress-eating.) Some of them are actively difficult to force myself into when my anxiety levels are high. Who wants to sit still and meditate in the face of adversity when I could be remorselessly cleaning the house to restore an illusory sense of control on a disordered world? Well, I do. But I sometimes take some convincing. Hence the value of collecting these beneficial actions, for my future reference when I need them most, and am least able to identify them clearly.
These are my touchstones.
Meditation
Walking (even better in nature)
Brewing & drinking herbal tea
Talking to people I trust
Quiet time to figure out my feelings and thoughts
Preparing & eating nourishing foods
Relaxing instrumental music
Sleep (both lots of nightly sleep and naps)
What are yours?
Living Vividly 
I share a lot of the same touchstones. Stillness, breathing slowly and deliberately, checking in with myself in a compassionate way, putting my hand over my heart, these are a bunch more, for me.
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for this, Carole! Several of those are my touchstones, too. When I’m having a bad viral crash, both my brain and my body are affected, so a couple of my favorite things to do are: watch The British Baking Show, crochet or do some other “lap craft,” and read a good book. I like to save some real “treat” activities for my worst days. 🙂