The Science of Cosiness: Why Winter Feels Better With Warm Light, Soft Sound and Ritual

4 December 2025

Paul Francis

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Somewhere between the first frosty morning and the second early sunset, many of us start craving the same things: warm light, hot drinks, familiar films, thick socks, and the sense that home is a refuge from the outdoors. We call it “cosy”, but the feeling is not just aesthetic. It is physical, psychological, and surprisingly practical.

Woman in a cozy sweater sits on a sofa holding a stuffed animal, near a decorated Christmas tree. Warm lights create a festive mood.

Cosiness is what happens when your body senses safety and steadiness. It is comfort, but with a particular flavour: warmth, softness, predictability and a gentle lowering of demands.

What “cosy” really is

Cosiness is often described like a mood, but it behaves more like an environment. It is created by a combination of signals that tell your nervous system, “you can relax now”.

Those signals tend to fall into a few familiar categories:

Warmth (temperature, blankets, hot food)
Softness (textures, cushions, knitted fabrics)
Low glare lighting (lamps, candles, fairy lights)
Low threat sound (quiet music, gentle voices, rain on windows)
Small rituals (tea at the same time, lighting a candle, a film tradition)

In winter, these cues work harder because the outside world feels harsher, darker, louder and colder. Cosiness becomes a way of counterbalancing.

Why winter makes us want it more

In the UK, winter hits in a very specific way: damp cold, short days, and long stretches of grey. Less daylight can affect energy levels and mood, partly because it disrupts sleep timing and daily routines. Even if you do not feel “sad”, you can still feel less motivated, a bit flatter, and more easily tired.

Cosy settings offer a gentle solution. They reduce stimulation, encourage rest, and help you slow down without needing to call it “self care”.

The comfort of warm light

Bright overhead lighting can feel harsh when it is dark outside. Warm, low lighting tends to feel safer and more flattering, but there is something deeper going on too. At night, the body is more suited to calm light rather than intense glare. Lamps and warm tones mimic firelight, which humans have used for thousands of years to signal rest and safety after dark.

If you want a quick cosy upgrade, change the lighting first. Even a single lamp can shift a room from “functional” to “inviting”.

Soft sound and the “safe noise” effect

Silence can be peaceful, but it can also make a home feel empty. Cosy sound is rarely loud. It is predictable, soft, and steady. Think: gentle playlists, radio voices, crackling fire videos, rain sounds.

This kind of audio does something important. It fills the background so your mind stops scanning for surprises. If you have had a stressful day, soft sound can make it easier to come down from that heightened state.

Texture is emotional, not decorative

Texture is one of the fastest ways to create cosiness because your skin reads it instantly. Rough, cold or synthetic textures can keep you feeling slightly “on guard”. Soft, warm fabrics can do the opposite.

You do not need to redesign a room. One throw, one thick hoodie, one pair of warm slippers can change the entire feel of a winter evening.

Why rituals feel powerful in December

Many cosy habits are rituals. A ritual is not just a routine. It has meaning. It marks a moment as special, even if the act is small.

In winter, rituals help because they provide:

Predictability when days feel rushed or chaotic
A sense of control when the outside world feels uncertain
A cue to rest, especially when you struggle to switch off

This is why seasonal rituals catch on so easily. The first mince pie, the first film night, the first tree decoration. They are small anchors that make the month feel structured.

How to build cosiness without buying loads

Cosiness can become a shopping trend, but it does not have to be.

A simple “cosy checklist” looks like this:

One warm light source (lamp, fairy lights, candles)
One comforting texture (throw, thick socks, soft hoodie)
One safe sound (quiet playlist or spoken radio)
One warm drink or meal
One small ritual you repeat

The point is not perfection. The point is signalling to yourself that you are allowed to slow down.

Cosiness is not laziness, and it is not just decoration. In winter, it can be a quiet form of adaptation. A way of restoring energy, lowering stress, and finding warmth when the season asks us to endure cold and darkness.

In a world that rarely stops shouting, the cosy moment is often the moment your body finally believes it is safe.

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Apple Pulls Encrypted Backup Feature in UK Amid Government Pressure

Paul Francis
Feb 26
3 min read

The ongoing battle between Apple and the UK government over encrypted data access has taken a major turn, with Apple officially removing its encrypted Advanced Data Protection (ADP) backup feature for UK users. The move follows a demand under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (IPA), which required Apple to create a backdoor allowing law enforcement access to encrypted iCloud backups.

This development has sparked intense debate over privacy, cybersecurity, and government surveillance, with critics warning that it could set a dangerous precedent for tech companies worldwide.

What’s Happening?

In early February 2025, reports emerged that the UK government had issued a technical capability notice (TCN) to Apple, compelling the company to create a means for authorities to access end-to-end encrypted iCloud data. The demand was made under the IPA, often called the "Snooper’s Charter", which grants the UK government broad surveillance powers over digital communications.

Apple, which has long positioned itself as a champion of user privacy, refused to create a backdoor. Instead, the company has opted to withdraw its ADP feature for UK users entirely.

As of February 21, 2025:

New UK users will no longer be able to enable Advanced Data Protection for iCloud backups.

Existing users will receive notifications instructing them to disable the feature.

Other Apple encryption services (such as iMessage and iCloud Keychain) will remain unchanged—for now.

The UK government maintains that the move is necessary to combat terrorism, organized crime, and child exploitation, arguing that encryption prevents law enforcement from obtaining vital evidence. Apple, however, has countered that weakening encryption for one government inevitably weakens security for all users worldwide.

Why Did Apple Remove ADP in the UK?

Apple’s decision appears to be a direct response to the UK’s legal framework, which requires companies to comply with surveillance orders in secret. Under the IPA, tech companies are forbidden from revealing whether they have received a request for backdoor access.

In previous cases, Apple has resisted similar demands, even threatening to withdraw services like iMessage and FaceTime from the UK market if forced to weaken encryption. While the UK government later backed down on that demand, it has stood firm on iCloud backups, leading Apple to take the drastic step of disabling ADP entirely.

Apple’s response suggests that it was unable to legally challenge the request or that it faced potential penalties for noncompliance. By pulling the feature, Apple avoids directly compromising its encryption while still operating within UK law.

The Risks of Weakening Encryption

Privacy advocates and cybersecurity experts have condemned the UK’s approach, warning that it sets a dangerous precedent for governments worldwide. Key concerns include:

A backdoor for one government is a backdoor for everyone – If Apple had complied, other governments—including those with weaker human rights protections—could demand similar access.

Increased cybercrime risk – Encryption protects individuals, businesses, and even national security infrastructure. Weakening it could expose sensitive personal and corporate data to hackers.
Surveillance creep – The IPA allows the UK government to expand its surveillance powers over time. Once access to encrypted backups is granted, the next step could be real-time access to messaging and calls.
Erosion of digital privacy globally – If other nations follow suit, Apple and other tech companies could face mounting pressure to create backdoors in their encryption systems, fundamentally altering the digital privacy landscape.

Could Other Tech Companies Be Next?

The UK's success in pressuring Apple may embolden governments to target other tech giants. Companies that could face similar demands include:

Google (Android backups, Google Drive encryption)
Microsoft (OneDrive, Windows security features)
Meta (WhatsApp, Messenger encryption)
Encrypted messaging services (Signal, Telegram, ProtonMail)

If this trend continues, we may see a global shift where governments increasingly demand access to encrypted data, leaving users with fewer secure digital options.

What Happens Next?

For now, UK Apple users will no longer have access to fully encrypted iCloud backups. However, Apple’s decision to pull the feature instead of complying suggests that it may continue to push back against government demands for broader access to user data.

Meanwhile, the debate over encryption, surveillance, and the limits of government power is far from over. Privacy advocates warn that the UK's approach could lead to increased state surveillance and weakened digital protections worldwide.

As governments and tech companies continue to clash over these issues, one thing is clear: the fight over encryption is only just beginning.