How Do I Lean Into Valentine’s Day If Winter Is Killing My Sex Drive?
By Eliza Dumais
February 4, 2026
“You have to remember: Valentine’s day is a man-made holiday. There’s nothing in our biology that says, it’s February. Time to have sex!” says Boehm. “In fact, evolutionarily, we’re supposed to hunker down and put on some meat in winter…then re-emerge in spring, full of hormones.” As she puts it, it’s important to remember that there’s nothing abnormal or unhealthy about a dwindling libido in winter…if anything, it’s utterly expected. Sure, the Hallmark overlords may be jamming some version of snow-dusted erotica down your throat, but the corporate agenda’s got little to do with how you’re actually feeling. So be gentle with yourself. “The only thing that’s not healthy is putting heavy expectations on yourself or your partner just for the sake of this so-called holiday,” says Boehm.