5 Slow & Sensual Grounding Winter Rituals for Overwhelmed Women (A Simple Guide for Stressful Times)
Jan 25, 2026
It’s snowing as I write this...
Here's my current view, as I'm snuggled up nice & cozy on my couch, with my laptop under a blanket:
It's the first real snowstorm of 2026 in New England. The kind that forces you to slow down, whether you want to or not.
For an introverted homebody queen like me, this is heavenly.
I’m bundled up in the living room, candles lit, jazz on in the background, cinnamon tea and coffee and my big jug of water directly within reach (Girlie Pop work-from-home Rule #1: Stay hydrated by always having at least 2-3 beverages going simultaneously at all times, haha), watching everything disappear behind a cloud of thick white magic as I type - and honestly, it feels like a sweet & gentle reminder.
You're not a machine.
Winter (in the Northern Hemisphere at least) does this thing where it calls for contemplative, hibernation energy. January 1st isn't actually the true "new year" to get things moving again (that's SPRING, honey).
This is an inward, insular time - and, as nature intended, it's meant to be this way.
It’s cold.
It’s dark out earlier.
You're basically stuck indoors.
You instinctually want to move less.
You hunker down to work more.
You probably feel detached from your body & your sensuality, because you're buried in layers of clothing & feeling sexy isn't exactly top of mind when you're doing your best just to avoid your skin flaking off at a rapid pace. Aquaphor stock, anyone?
(speaking of: Me, the skincare OBSESSED - with TWO humidifiers going at once right now - because otherwise I'm a dry husk all winter long. *cries in La Roche Posay Lipikar triple-repair cream*)
For ambitious, busy, high-functioning women in particular, winter can quietly become a season of deep disconnection.
You default to pushing past the fatigue. To doing. To "getting through", til those first glorious rays of sunshine hit your arms & legs come April or May (after 6 months of looking & feeling like a baked potato, lol).
I notice it every year.
This is the time when I have to simplify on purpose & lean into pleasurable self-care rituals if I want to stay connected to my body - to my sensuality, my softness, my radiance, my aliveness - instead of disappearing into my head until spring.
And here’s what I’ve learned:
Simplicity is not laziness. It’s a signal of safety to your nervous system.
When the world feels cold & chaotic, your body doesn’t need a bunch of logical "strategies".
It needs space. Fewer decisions. Decluttering. Less input. Less information overload.
Simplifying things lets the body know it can relax. And when the body relaxes, everything else follows.
Why simplicity works when nothing else does
You know it as well as I do:
Driven, powerful women can think their way through anything.
We’re amazing at that.
But your body & feminine intelligence doesn’t respond to logic - it responds to sensory cues.
Things like warmth. Texture. Slowness.
When you give your body simple & gentle repeated signals of safety, it starts to soften on its own.
You don’t have to force rest or “try” to relax. It just…happens.
That’s the magic of winter in a cold-weather climate, if you let it be a quiet retreat back to your natural, cyclical rhythm instead of a grind.
Five gentle ways I stay sensually grounded when everything feels chaotic
Nothing fancy or complicated & trust me - these work wonders.
Here are my favorite winter self-care grounding practices for calming nervous system regulation:
1. Walks outdoors, preferably tech-free (no headphones, no music) & in sunlight
I've been aiming for 6-10K steps as many days a week as possible for low-impact movement & a way to regulate my nervous system (and yes, sometimes I just hit the treadmill when the weather isn't great). But if you're lower on time, even 15 minutes outside in the fresh air, preferably when it's still light out and/or the sun is shining for a boost of serotonin (the happy hormone, baby!), is enough to come back to life and feel grounded.
2. Cozy, natural fabrics
Linen. Cotton. Cashmere. Merino Wool. Silk. Anything breathable that feels like a soft yes on my skin makes such a difference (especially when it's freezing outside). I even replaced all my bedding with linen sheets & duvet cover (and as a hot sleeper, this is cooling magic - I swear by it). Sensuality starts here.
3. Warm, sensual rituals
Warm showers or baths where I like to use great smells, like a few drops of eucalyptus oil right as I start the water in the shower or some drops of lavender or geranium essential oil in a bath. Facial oil (I love pure Argan oil) that I warm up in my hands & spend a few minutes massaging into my face, neck & chest. Body oils that I use in the shower - while I'm still warm & my skin is damp - to seal in moisture & get my skin feeling soft. Getting under a blanket on the couch & using a warm water bottle or heat pad on my belly. Warm, homemade soups (like Butternut Squash with Coconut Milk - my personal winter fave). Heat will naturally calm you down & help you instantly feel more relaxed.
4. Slower mornings
Absolutely NO rushing. No scrolling. Just coffee, sunlight & deep breaths. Sometimes I do this in silence, sometimes with some quiet music in the background. If you have a busy morning schedule, getting to bed a bit earlier & getting up even 20-30 minutes earlier than usual to give yourself the luxury of a slower morning is 1000% worth it.
5. One small pleasure a day
This can be as simple as buying myself some fresh flowers at Trader Joe's or a little piece of dark chocolate. It can be something free, like carving out 10 guilt-free minutes on your calendar to stare at the wall in peace, with absolutely nothing to do or giving yourself the gift of a healthy boundary by saying "no" to something (even if it disappoints someone else) when you know you're overcommitted & could benefit from some spaciousness. This pleasure isn't something you earn or justify. It's something you joyfully CHOOSE.
These all remind my body the same thing: you’re safe now.
A soft reminder (especially in times like these)
If you tune into any social media or turn on the news lately (particularly if you live in the USA), it's collectively...pretty dark & dismal.
Yes, the world feels loud & scary.
Yes, there's a lot of uncertainty.
Yes, you've definitely got to consciously look for the good (and keep creating it - by being kind & compassionate to others) right now.
And no - you don’t need to necessarily "do more".
You have permission to be mindful about what you're consuming (this includes all kinds of media, as well as what's going on with those around you) & what you're choosing to do with your time & energy.
I stay informed on world events, but I also know that as an empathic, highly-sensitive person, one of the kindest acts I can do - for myself and others - is to tend to my wellness (inside & out) so I'm showing up & serving from a full cup.
I make sure I'm prioritizing my daily Buddhist meditation & spiritual practice (which is a potent reminder of my agency & the power I DO have when it comes to my own mind & how I use the valuable resources at my disposal).
I'm intentional & honest about my bandwidth, knowing I simply cannot be everything to everybody...and that's okay. I do what I can, ensuring I'm in overflow by making self-care number one on my list - and then I give myself (and others) grace.
I'm not getting caught in the trap of doom-scrolling for hours on end.
I've been especially good about NOT being on technology at least an hour before bed, so I'm not overstimulated (or having nightmares about some crazy Instagram reel I saw right before I closed my eyes).
Small, simple, sensual habits are not frivolous.
They're stabilizing. They're medicinal in wildly unstable times.
And they’re exactly where to begin when we want to return to ourselves & create an inner sense of security (which is ultimately what matters most) - without collapsing into overwhelm.
For now, just start with these simple suggestions - with gentleness & even just one small act of tenderness for yourself today.
Ali xx
🌹 If this resonates, this is the kind of work I guide women through inside Return of Venus - a self-paced feminine embodiment journey for ambitious women who are tired of holding everything together & are ready to slow down & soften to feel well-rested & radiant, without losing momentum (so everything is still getting done).
