As summer peaks, many of us feel the intense energy that comes with it. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), this is the Fire element at work—active, expressive, and expansive. While Fire brings joy, warmth, and connection, it can also lead to restlessness, anxiety, and burnout when excessive. To stay balanced, we look to the Earth element for grounding, nourishment, and centering.

Earth energy is stable, supportive, and rhythmic. It governs the Spleen and Stomach, influences our digestion and mental clarity, and provides a container for the outward-moving Fire. When Fire becomes too much—think overcommitting, overheating, or emotional overwhelm—Earth is the element that brings us home to ourselves.

Here are three practical lifestyle tips rooted in TCM wisdom to help you stay grounded this summer by strengthening your Earth energy.

1. Choose Earth-Nourishing Foods

To support the Earth element, focus on foods that are warm, gently cooked, and naturally sweet in flavor. Avoid overly cold, raw, or greasy foods, which can burden the Spleen and lead to foggy thinking or fatigue. Instead, reach for root vegetables (like carrots, yams, and sweet potatoes), whole grains (such as millet, brown rice, and oats), and foods that are golden or yellow in color—the color associated with Earth. Simple soups, congee, or stews can also be deeply grounding. Try eating at regular mealtimes and chew thoroughly to further support digestion and center your energy.

2. Create Daily Anchors

Fire thrives in spontaneity, but too much of it can leave us feeling scattered. Earth energy, on the other hand, finds strength in rhythm and routine. Establish small daily anchors to bring consistency into your day. This could be a morning walk at the same time, preparing lunch mindfully without distraction, or turning off screens 30 minutes before bed. You don’t need a rigid schedule—just a few steady practices that your body and mind can count on. These rhythms reinforce a sense of internal stability and help contain the outward nature of Fire.

3. Tend to Your Center (Literally and Energetically)

In TCM, the Earth element is associated with the middle burner—the area around the abdomen. Gentle abdominal massage, deep belly breathing, or qigong exercises that focus on the Spleen and Stomach meridians can help restore centeredness. Emotionally, the Earth element corresponds to sympathy and thoughtfulness. When Fire becomes overactive, we can become emotionally reactive. Bringing attention to your breath and to your physical center helps shift energy from the head and chest back down into the body. This creates a grounding effect that’s both physical and emotional.

Learning to balance Fire with Earth doesn’t mean dimming your spark. It means creating a stable foundation so that your inner light can burn steady and bright. These small Earth-based practices offer support not only for summer, but for any time life feels a little too fast, hot, or intense.

Take care of your center and let the rest settle from there—

Jake