How to Ground Yourself in the Winter

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It’s that time of year again when the cold weather tries to bring us down aka the winter blues.

The days are shorter and all we want to do is curl up under a blanket or stay in bed under the warm covers.

While it’s natural to feel a little more sluggish during the winter, it’s important to find ways to stay grounded and balanced during the winter months. 

How to Ground Yourself in the Winter 

The winter season often throws you off balance due to shorter days, less sunlight, and a change in energy and mood. But with simple practices, you can steady yourself, learn your natural pace, and ground yourself in the winter.

What is grounding?

In essence, grounding or earthing is the practice of reconnecting with the earth and its natural rhythms. When we feel connected to the earth, we can find peace and reduce stress.

Grounding activities can be as simple as taking a walk outside or stand barefoot on the grass, or spending time in nature, and it has been shown to have a host of benefits for physical, emotional, and mental health. 

Some other benefits of grounding are reducing anxiety and inflammation, improving sleep, circulation, and mindfulness.

However, during the winter months, the coldness can make it very difficult to be outside much less putting your feet on the cold grass (or snow). 

Grounding yourself is the process of balancing your mind, body, and spirit and reconnecting with yourself.

Here are some ways to keep you grounded during the winter.

11 Ways to Ground Yourself in the Cold Weather

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1. Drink Grounding Herbal Teas

Cozy up and be mindful at the moment with a hot grounding herbal tea. 

Examples of grounding herbal teas are:

• Chamomile
• Tulsi
• Ginger
• Peppermint
• Jasmine 
• Rooibos

This will not only warm you up but has a ton of health benefits to help you to feel centered.

Keep reading: 10 Teas That Boost The Immune System and Keep Seasonal Illness From Slowing You Down

2. Put Your Feet Flat on the Floor

Depending on where you live it might be hard for you to go outside because it might have a lot of snow on the ground or just be too cold to function. 

Even though you might not be able to go outside you can ground yourself inside by putting your feet flat on the concrete flooring or making contact with earth.

This is a practice you have to be mindful of. You can do this either walking barefoot or with warm and fuzzy socks made with cotton or wool.

If you want to take it up a notch you can use a grounding mat which is made of natural materials that will help to ground your body’s energy.

3. Practice Deep Breathing

During the winter months, especially around the holiday season and the new year, you may feel more overwhelmed and stressed out than normal. 

Being mindful and taking deep breaths is a great way to calm the nervous system and get grounded.

A great technique to use is the Box Breathing technique. 

How to do box breathing

• Slowly inhale for a count of four seconds.
• Hold your breath for a count of four seconds. 
• Exhale for a count of four seconds.
• Repeat a few times till you feel re-centered and grounded.

4. Nourish Yourself with Grounding Foods

During the colder months, it is a great time to nourish your body with grounding foods such as root vegetables and warming spices. These foods often keep us full, help with digestion, reduce inflammation, and have a way of giving our bodies a sense of warmth and offer deep grounding benefits.

According to Ayurveda, we should adjust what we eat throughout the changing seasons. For example, in the summer we eat more cold and refreshing foods but in wintertime, we stick to more warm and grounding foods. Makes sense right?!

Related Reads:

• How to Create a Self-Care Routine for Your Mind, Body, and Soul
• 12 Ways to Reduce Stress and Feel Calmer

5. Move Your Body by Practicing Yoga

Practicing yoga is not only a great way to relieve stress but always a great way to feel centered and grounded. 

The last thing you probably want to do in the wintertime is exercise but moving your body is essential for your well-being. And yoga is a great way to do this. 

Some grounding yoga poses are:

• Tadasana (Mountain Pose)
• Vrksasana (Tree Pose)
• Savasana (Corpse Pose)

> Check out Grounding Yoga Videos

6. Get Some Sunlight

For at least 10 minutes a day, enjoy the sunlight. You can do this by bundling up and stepping outside and standing in the sun. 

Or by sitting by one of your windows and taking in the sunlight. The sun gives our mind, body, and spirit so many amazing benefits like energy and Vitamin D. 

You can even take this time to meditate and practice sun meditation which is a great way to allow your body to draw energy from the sun.

7. Practice Mindful Self-Care Rituals

Mindful self-care rituals are a great way to bring you back into the present moment and feel balanced and grounded. 

Examples of some mind self-care rituals are: 

• Take a bath with grounding essential oils such as lavender and frankincense
• Practice gratitude journaling
• Turn your phone on silent and read a good book or spend some quality time with someone you love and laugh a lot
• Give yourself a massage or get a massage – make sure to have calm music playing, diffuse essential oils, and have candles

8. Stay Connected to Nature, Even Indoors 

Colder days create an invisible boundary around us that limits our lives indoors. We spend most of our time bundled up inside our homes, drawing the curtains, and unintentionally limiting sunlight and fresh air. And this subtle disconnection dulls our energy—like we lose the electrical charge that connects us to nature.

But our body remembers the connection to nature and responds to even its subtle clues. A few simple adjustments to how we live indoors to stay connected can reopen nature’s grounding energy. 

Every morning, open the windows and let in the sunlight and crisp air, even for a brief time. Keep a few indoor potted plants of evergreen branches or dried herbs. These aesthetic choices create a sensory anchor that reconnects you with the rhythm of the season.

9. Practice Slow Living 

Most of us resist the slower rhythm of life. We idealize a faster pace, consume without thinking, and chase instant outcomes. 

But practicing slow living doesn’t demand you to be less ambitious or abandon responsibilities; rather, it gives you a chance to calm your overstimulated mind and find a pace that feels natural and not dictated. 

Try to sip your tea without multitasking, take walks without your headphones, fold your laundry without rushing, eat dinner without your phone, or simply practice mindful breathing. These conscious acts of moving at a slower pace pull you against noises that fracture your focus in different directions.  

10. Practice Gratitude Anchors 

Winter strips our life down to essentials—less light, less rush, and fewer distractions. During those moments of stillness, we often notice the discomfort of life and things we lack. 

An act of gratitude, working as an anchor, can ground your restless mind and keep you from drifting into negativity. By finding even one simple reason to be thankful each day, you can redirect your focus from what isn’t to abundance in your life. 

Put it on pepper, say it out loud, or simply hold it in your head for a moment. These daily acts of gratitude don’t ease hardship, but they anchor you to small certainties.     

11. Reflect on Your Season  

Use quieter days of winter as an intentional, ritualized reflection. Use this time of the year to check in with yourself. It isn’t about dwelling on your mistakes or striving for perfection, but seeing your own emotional patterns that help you ground. 

Make it a weekly or monthly habit to review to see where you are spending your energy, what thoughts occupy your mind, or what actually aligns with your purpose. This mindful act helps you recognize your inner seasons and growth.  

Final Thoughts

It’s important not to let the winter blues get you down. 

Finding grounding techniques that work for you is one of the best ways to help you to become calm and take care of your well-being. 

Instead of shutting yourself inside and hibernating all day long, try incorporating some of these activities into your winter routine. You’ll be sure to stay grounded and balanced throughout the season!

Which activity do you plan on doing?