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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Are companies switching from in-person interviews to AI chatbots?

Ellie Waiton
Aug 13
3 min read

If you've applied for a job recently, you might have noticed something different: the first “interview” often isn’t with a person at all, it’s with a chatbot.

More and more companies are using artificial intelligence to help them with the hiring process. From screening resumes to conducting initial interviews, chatbots and AI-powered tools are becoming a regular part of how businesses find new talent. But is this a smart move, or is something important getting lost along the way?

A robot in a suit holds papers, facing a person in an office with a city view. The setting is professional, with modern decor.

What is AI actually changing?

Traditionally, job interviews started with a phone call or a face-to-face meeting. Now, for many roles, especially high-volume or entry-level positions, companies are turning to automated systems. These might ask candidates to answer a set of questions via video, or they may chat with you in real time to screen your qualifications.

It’s faster and cheaper for companies, but not everyone’s a fan.

Why companies are doing it

Let’s be fair: using AI can make hiring a lot more efficient. Businesses like Nestlé and GM have saved thousands of hours and even millions of dollars by switching to automated tools. These systems can scan through applications, schedule interviews, and even give feedback to candidates all without involving a human recruiter until much later in the process.

For companies hiring hundreds or even thousands of people, it makes sense logistically.

So… What’s the problem?

The biggest complaint? It feels impersonal. Many candidates say they don’t like talking to a machine, especially when it’s a job they care about. Others worry about fairness. Can an algorithm really judge someone’s personality, creativity, or potential?

There are also concerns about bias. If the AI is trained on data that favours certain types of candidates, it could end up unfairly filtering out great people.

And then there’s the weird stuff. There are TikToks going viral of AI interviews glitching out, repeating phrases, mishearing answers, or just being plain awkward. One user even joked it felt like applying for a job in a Black Mirror episode.

What About Real Interviews?

Smiling woman in striped shirt shakes hands across a desk in an office with shelves, books, and plants. Bright, friendly atmosphere.

Don’t worry, human interviews haven’t gone away. Most companies still bring in real people for the later stages of hiring. AI is often used just to get through the first wave of applications. For smaller businesses or more senior roles, traditional interviews are still the norm.

Some companies are even trying hybrid methods. Meta, for example, is letting candidates use AI tools during their interviews for some tech jobs, kind of like using a calculator during a math test. It’s all about testing real-world problem-solving.

Is this the future?

Probably. AI isn’t replacing human recruiters entirely, but it is becoming a bigger part of the process. As tools improve, they’ll likely become more common, especially for screening and admin tasks.

But here’s the key: people still matter. The final hiring decision usually comes down to a human being, and for good reason. No machine can fully understand passion, personality, or potential the way another person can.

So, are companies switching to AI interviews? Yes, but not completely. Chatbots are helping with early steps, but in most cases, real conversations are still part of the process.

If you're applying for jobs, it helps to be prepared for both. Practice answering questions on video, but also be ready to connect with an actual person when the time comes. And if the idea of talking to a chatbot feels strange, you’re not alone.

Would you trust a robot to hire you?

Or is this one task better left to humans?