The winter months can be cold, dark, and isolating. This is a time when it’s easy to feel worried, stressed, or cut off from your body and the earth’s natural rhythms. That’s why it’s so important to practice grounding in the winter. When we ground ourselves, we connect with the earth’s stabilizing energy and our nervous system calms down. It also helps us sleep better and reduces inflammation.
Though it’s more challenging to get outdoor barefoot time in the grass or dirt during winter, there are many ways to stay grounded within the coziness of your home. Try out these tips to remain centered and at peace all winter long:
Spend Time Barefoot Indoors
Even though it might be dangerous to walk barefoot in the snow, you can still feel more grounded when you’re inside without shoes. When you work, relax, do yoga, or meditate, put your bare feet right on the floor. Pay close attention to how your feet feel as they press against the ground.
You can also stimulate reflexology points linked to grounding and calmness by walking barefoot on a wood floor or yoga mat. Focus on applying pressure to the balls of your feet, heels, and arches as you take steps. Let the soles of your feet fully connect with the simple pleasure of feeling the floor.
Soak in a Hot Bath
Draw yourself a hot bath when you need some solo grounding time. As you submerge your naked body into the steamy water, visualize your stress and tension melting away. Feel the warmth envelop you like a comforting hug. Soaking in a tub of hot water brings you into your body and into the present moment.
For an extra grounding boost, add Epsom salts which contain magnesium that gets absorbed through your skin as you bathe. Magnesium supports nerve and muscle function for overall calm and wellbeing. Light some candles nearby and give yourself this relaxing, rejuvenating grounding ritual.
Cook Warm, Hearty Meals
For warmth and comfort on cold days, nothing beats making a pot of hot soup, stew, or chili. Getting in touch with your senses and the earth’s food by chopping vegetables and cooking them slowly on the stove You feel like you’re in the kitchen when you smell and taste meals like beef stew, potato leek soup, or vegetarian chili.
Eating these dishes links you to generations of people who relied on hearty, warming meals to get grounded during long winters Feel your cold body soak up the warmth bite-by-bite. Chew slowly, and taste each earthy ingredient
Wear Natural Fabrics
Clothing made from natural materials like wool cotton, silk and hemp can enhance your grounding experience in winter. The fibers’ organic origins help transmit the earth’s negative surface charge into your body when worn close to the skin. Swap out synthetic thermal layers for wool long johns and tops to stay warm and grounded on winter hikes and activities.
Instead of polyester fleece pajamas when you’re at home, wear cozy cotton sweatpants and wool socks. When you compare these fabrics to man-made ones, notice how soft and cozy they feel. Wearing them will remind you of your connection to the earth.
Hug a Tree
Head outside on even the coldest day for a tree hug. Wrap your arms around a tree trunk and press your cheek gently against the bark. Feel the rough, solid trunk beneath your hands as you embrace it closely. Soak up the tree’s grounding energy and imagine your stress flowing down through your feet into the earth.
Make this a regular habit when you need a quick reset during your day. Take a mindful walk in nature and stop for a therapeutic tree hug when you feel overwhelmed or anxious. The tree’s calming energy will help center and restore you.
Tend Houseplants
Caring for houseplants brings the energy of nature into your living space all winter long. Watering, pruning, and fertilizing each plant is a soothing ritual that relaxes the mind. Pay attention to each leaf and stem, noticing its unique colors, textures, and patterns up close.
When you need a boost, take time to mindfully tend to each plant. Feel how the soil feels between your fingers as you check for moisture. Appreciate your interconnection with these living beings and the earth as you nurture their growth.
Ground with Crystals
Certain crystals like hematite, black tourmaline, and smokey quartz help ground energy and dissolve stress. Keep them close at hand all winter to tap into their soothing powers. Place them by your workspace, bedside, or anywhere you spend a lot of time.
Hold your favorite grounding stone while meditating, during yoga, or when you’re feeling frazzled. Feel its cool, heavy weight in your palm. Let it absorb excess energy and calm your mind. Its stable, earthy vibration will bring a sense of centeredness.
Do Grounding Yoga Poses
Yoga poses where your body contacts the earth can be very grounding. In the winter, try poses like Legs Up the Wall, Forward Fold, and Child’s Pose on a yoga mat or blanket. Feel the support of the floor beneath you and imagine roots growing from your palms and soles down into the ground.
For a more advanced option, craft your own grounding flow by transitioning between poses that require different body parts to press into the earth. Explore grounding from head to toe through movements like Downward Facing Dog, Plank, and Hands and Knees.
Massage
Hands-on touch offers a wonderful way to get grounded, especially in the winter when people tend to isolate more. Schedule a massage session and notice what a difference it makes to have a practitioner’s hands pressing into your muscles. The combination of firm touch and the grounded presence of your massage therapist will leave you feeling relaxed and reconnected.
You might also exchange massages with your partner, friend or family member. Kneading each other’s tight spots not only grounds you, but also strengthens your relationship bonds. Trade slow, gentle strokes to give and receive this calming, comforting touch.
Forest Bathing
Take a meditative walk through a winter forest, moving slowly and quietly as you fully engage all your senses. Notice the look, smells and sounds of the forest in winter. Reach out and touch the rough bark of evergreen trees as you pass by. Pause periodically to breathe deeply and soak up the natural environment around you. Let the sights, sounds, and smells ground you in nature’s beauty.
Listen to Grounding Music
Certain ambient, acoustic, or spiritual tunes can ground and relax both mind and body with their Earthy vibrations. Make a custom playlist of grounding music to listen to as you cook, clean, work, or wind down for bed. Try artists like Ben Howard, Bon Iver, Gregory Alan Isakov, and Fleet Foxes. Let the soothing melodies and natural tones wash over you.
Sip Grounding Teas
Sipping a hot cup of tea helps warm you from the inside out while also providing a soothing ritual for the senses. Herbal teas like chamomile, peppermint, lavender and lemon balm have calming properties that promote relaxation. Savor the aroma and flavor of each sip. Feel the heat of the cup seep into your hands. Let the tea ground you in the present moment.
Get a Pet
Having an animal companion provides unconditional love and physical contact that keeps you grounded all winter long. If you’re able to, adopt a cat or dog this season. Their soft fur and steady heartbeats are comforting. The responsibility of caring for them creates a nurturing routine. Their playful presence grounds you in joy.
Even if you can’t adopt, spend time with friends’ pets or volunteer at a shelter. Simply petting an animal and feeling their warmth against you is calming and grounding.
As you can see, you have plenty of options for staying grounded during the winter months without going outside barefoot in the snow! Get creative and try incorporating some of these simple yet enjoyable techniques into your daily routine. Maintaining a connection to the Earth’s stabilizing energy is so important for your overall health and wellbeing all year round.
Northern Lights ground you better than anything
Watching the Northern Lights dance in the sky is by far the most grounding thing you can experience. It makes you feel like a tiny person standing on a globe that is part of the universe. You feel tiny, but you are part of something huge. It’s humbling and grounding.
Photo by:
Unfortunately, you don’t get to enjoy the northern lights every day in Finland, so you should know some other ways to ground yourself. The 5-4-3-2-1 grounding method is probably the most famous technique I know. The main idea is to use all of your senses to ground yourself. There are different ways to do it. For example, start with noticing 5 things you see, then 4 things you hear, then 3 things you can touch, 2 things you can smell, and finally 1 thing you can taste. Take your time when doing this exercise.
How to Ground in the Winter Time | Dr. Janine
FAQ
How do I ground in the winter time?
Take off your gloves and touch the cold ground, snow, rocks, or trees. Run your hands along the icy bark of a tree or hold onto stones. Stay for 1-2 minutes, noticing the textures and sensations. Wear minimalist footwear (like barefoot shoes) that allow for a thin connection between your feet and the ground.
Does sitting on the grass count as grounding?
Grounding, or “earthing,” is the practice of connecting a body to earth. A complex energy network keeps the systems of our bodies going. The theory is that when you are connected to the earth by walking, sitting or lying directly on sand, grass or dirt, you soak up antioxidants.
Can you level ground in winter?
Although Spring is the best time, with respect to moisture, it can also be the worst time. The ground is usually very soft because of the snow-melt, which could result in new bumps if there’s too much traffic. Do not attempt leveling in the winter when the grass is dormant.
How many minutes of grounding do you need a day?
To start experiencing the possible benefits of grounding, aim for at least 30 minutes per day. Break this time into shorter sessions throughout the day, if needed. Perhaps you spend 15 minutes walking barefoot in the morning and another 15 minutes sitting or lying on a grounding mat in the evening.
Do we need grounding in the winter?
As it gets cold, folk stop grounding outside as much. But we need grounding even in the winter! Here’s how to do it:
How do you ground yourself in winter?
Wearing earthing footwear with copper plates or natural leather soles, and touching snow with bare hands and feet are just a few ways to ground yourself. Finding ways to get closer to the Earth indoors during the colder months will help expand your well-being and improve overall health.
How do you ground outdoors in colder weather?
Putting on grounded shoes or boots, with or without grounding socks, is another way to ground outside when it’s cold. Unlike most regular shoes, grounding shoes are specially made to conduct ground energy into your feet through the use of conductive materials like carbon, silver and copper in the outer and inner soles.
Is there a way to keep grounding outside when the weather turns cold?
As we move towards the cooler months of fall and winter, my inbox always gets overflowed with folks asking me if there is any way to keep grounding outside when the weather turns cold… and even bitterly cold. Yes, actually, there are tons of fabulous options to stay warm while still grounding outside.
Can You Stay grounded if there’s snow on the ground?
The crisp, cool days of winter can make it harder to stay grounded and connected to the earth’s natural energy But fear not, there are plenty of easy, enjoyable ways to remain grounded even when there’s snow on the ground Keep reading for 10 tips to help you harness the grounding power of winter.
Should you ground yourself indoors during the winter?
However, the winter weather can make it hard to be outside during the day. Research has shown that grounding can help with pain and inflammation, as well as your mood, sleep, and blood flow. In light of this, you should find ways to ground yourself inside, especially now when you likely need it the most.