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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Economic Instability and Political Extremism: Then and Now

Paul Francis
Jan 29
3 min read

Part 1: The Parallels of Turbulent Times

History, with all its twists and turns, often feels like a mirror held up to the present. As we explore the turbulent years of 1920–1924 and 2010–2024, one striking thread binds them together: economic instability, coupled with the rise of political extremism, creates fertile ground for upheaval. Yet, by examining the past, we can better understand—and perhaps avoid—the mistakes that shaped history.

Woman in fur coat holds a cigarette in a holder, exhaling smoke. Black and white image with a glamorous, vintage mood.

The Economic Struggles of a Century Ago

The world of 1920 was one in recovery mode, but the scars of World War I were fresh. Germany’s economic devastation was particularly profound, thanks to the Treaty of Versailles. War reparations, demanded by the Allied powers, placed an unbearable burden on the German economy. By 1923, hyperinflation reached a point where citizens carried wheelbarrows of cash to buy a loaf of bread. The collapse of the German mark wasn’t just an economic event—it was a societal trauma.

Meanwhile, in other parts of the world, recovery looked different. The United States entered the Roaring Twenties, a decade of unprecedented economic growth, yet one that masked growing inequalities. The wealth gap widened as industrial expansion benefited the upper echelons of society, leaving rural communities and lower-income workers struggling to keep up.

This contrast of roaring prosperity and crippling despair set the stage for future instability. In Germany, it created a breeding ground for anger and desperation, leading to the rise of radical ideologies.

Modern Echoes: 2010–2024

Fast-forward to the 2010s and the parallels are hard to ignore. The global financial crisis of 2008 had left economies reeling. Governments implemented austerity measures to stabilize finances, but the social toll was high. Unemployment soared in countries like Greece and Spain, and public services were slashed.

Then came the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought the global economy to a grinding halt. Governments scrambled to inject life into their economies through massive stimulus packages, but these measures came at a cost. Inflation surged globally, with households struggling to keep up with skyrocketing food and energy prices. The economic aftershocks have deepened inequalities—just as they did a century ago.

Steam train crossing an arched stone viaduct, releasing white smoke. Scenic backdrop of hills and trees. Black and white image.

The Role of Economic Despair in Political Extremism

In the early 1920s, desperation made radical ideologies appealing. Benito Mussolini’s 1922 March on Rome marked the birth of fascism as a political force. In Germany, Adolf Hitler’s Beer Hall Putsch of 1923 may have failed, but it signalled the rise of the Nazi Party. These movements thrived by exploiting economic hardship and national humiliation, presenting themselves as saviours in a time of chaos.

Today, the political landscape shows a similar pattern. The aftermath of the financial crisis and the pandemic created fertile ground for populist leaders who thrive on polarization. Movements like Brexit, fueled by economic and cultural grievances, reflect a world where people are disillusioned with traditional politics. Meanwhile, the rise of far-right and far-left parties across Europe mirrors the ideological battles of the 1920s.

The lesson here is stark: economic despair fuels extremism, but it is often the failure of mainstream politics to address these grievances that allows radical ideologies to flourish.

Global Crises and Societal Fractures

In both eras, global crises served as accelerants for unrest. Just as World War I’s aftermath destabilized economies, the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the fragility of modern systems. Supply chain disruptions, soaring debt, and political infighting have left many nations struggling to recover.

Moreover, the interconnected nature of today’s world amplifies these effects. What begins as a localized crisis—whether financial or geopolitical—quickly becomes global, much like how the Great Depression of the 1930s rippled across the globe.

Concluding Thoughts

A century apart, the years 1920–1924 and 2010–2024 show us the dangers of ignoring the warning signs of economic instability and political extremism. While history cannot predict the future, it can illuminate the paths we should avoid.

As we reflect on these parallels, one truth stands out: societies that invest in fairness, accountability, and resilience are better equipped to weather turbulent times. The past may echo loudly in the present, but the choice to break the cycle remains ours.