The Importance of Rest, Calm and Grounding as the Solstice Approaches
As the year edges towards the Winter Solstice, nature slows right down. Trees draw their energy deep into their roots. Animals curl up into their burrows. Even the sea seems to pause between tides. Yet many of us, especially those who are neurodivergent or living with ADHD or autism, feel an inner conflict at this time of year — an urge to rest, tangled with pressure to stay productive.
In a world that glorifies constant motion, allowing ourselves to slow down can feel uncomfortable or even guilt-inducing. But rest is not laziness. Rest is a return to balance, the quiet rhythm that supports every act of growth.
Listening to the body’s seasons
The solstice marks the longest night and a natural turning point. Just as the Earth pauses before moving towards the light, our bodies and minds need moments of stillness to reset. For those navigating ADHD or autistic burnout, this pause is not optional — it’s essential nervous system care.
Grounding practices, such as yoga nidra, slow walks in nature, or time spent outdoors with the elements, can help regulate sensory overload and reconnect us with our own internal rhythms. Using nature can act as a co-regulator (noticing wind, birdsong, your breath, and the soil beneath your hands) to gently steady the system.
The sea, stillness and connection
During my walk-and-talk coaching sessions here in Southend-on-Sea, I’ve noticed the calm that arrives by the coast at this time of year. The beaches are quiet. The air feels slower. Most people have turned inward, spending more time at home or seeking warmth and rest. Yet there’s something powerfully grounding about being outside now — the hush of the tide, the salt on the wind, the crunch of sand or grass beneath your feet. If you can’t get outside, feel free to use the nature mediation below to help you reset your nervous system:
For neurodivergent clients, especially autistic folks and those with ADHD or AuDHD, these sensory experiences can be deeply regulating. When everything feels overwhelming, simply stepping outside and letting the wind brush against your face or touching the grass can reconnect you to the world and to yourself. It’s a reminder that connection doesn’t always require company — it can be found in the small acts of presence with nature.
Reconnecting with calm
You might notice a pull towards quieter spaces and simpler food. Nourishing soups, herbal teas, and magnesium-rich Epsom salt baths support rest on a physical level, while plant allies like lavender, lemon balm, and chamomile soothe the mind. Even five minutes of gentle breathing can lower stress hormones and help the body feel safe enough to relax.
At this time of year, ADHD coaching and autism coaching often focus on creating sustainable rhythms — learning when to stop, how to decompress, and how to honour sensory needs without apology. Nature-based ADHD coaching here in the UK offers a grounded framework for connecting with the changing seasons and light levels, reminding us that cycles of rest and renewal are not weaknesses, but strengths drawn from the natural world.
Rest as preparation for renewal
When we honour the winter solstice, we honour the pause before growth. Taking time to rest in December allows creativity, clarity, and focus to return naturally as daylight begins to lengthen again. Calm becomes fertile ground for insight.
So as the year folds inwards, give yourself permission to follow the earth’s lead. Step outside. Breathe in the cold air. Feel your feet connect with the soil. Rest deeply. This stillness is not the end — it’s the quiet gathering of energy before the next bright beginning.
If you’re ready to create a calmer rhythm this winter, consider exploring burnout recovery coaching or ADHD, AuDHD or autism coaching face-to-face here in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, with Earth Coaching. Sessions are also available online across the UK and beyond!
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