There have been many occasions where all I need is to rid myself of the negative only due to an overload of others using me to pass their pain to, or through times of trouble causing mental tiredness as apposed to physical.
As an empath I find that the most common way suggested to ground is not the most ideal as this opens you to a whole new level of energy which in fact is not required or needed at all. We can be fully centerd at times when grounding is needed. The way that I was suggested when I first learnt about grounding from a very good friend of mine, and one of the best healers I know, was to ground in such a way that you only let out the negative energies. It is an excercise that can be performed whereever you can and need to.
Bend your knees and keep your back straight, you can however sit down for this if you prefer. Then relax your mind and conentrate on relaxed breathing. Now you can start to build up a ring of light around your waist. This can become very heavy this is why you keep your knees bent or sit, When you have pushed and built up a ring that you feel you can no longer build lift the ring over your head. Roll it up into a ball and throw it out of the window. If you throw it anywhere else it will bounce right back to you.
Personally I adapted this method to tying ribbons around me in which I placed all my negative energies in, I then untide them screwed them up and threw them away, so long as it wasn't at a closed door or wall.
As a beginner I found that this was the easiest and best way in order to clear my body of any unwatned pain, emotions and negative energies being thrust on me by others. In turn it made me more balanced as all I needed was already there it just didn't feel like it before. As you gorw and gaiin more strength youcan develop your own way and technique and may wish to do more advanced grounding I hope you find this as useful as I did.