- Cosy nights in are good for our wellbeing according to over two thirds of Brits
- 7 in 10 prefer a night in to a night out in the colder months
- We feel relaxed, rested and content after a night in, but tired, stressed and drained if we go a while without one
- More than half of us claim that taking time out is important for overall health
- A third of Brits would ideally spend all seven nights of the week at home in the winter
It’s official – being snug is good for you and leaves Brits feeling relaxed and de-stressed.
Whether it’s wrapping up in a blanket, dimming the lights, watching a film, or putting the fire on, six in 10 Brits need a certain amount of cosiness in their lives to feel good.
More than two thirds of Brits believe that relaxing nights in are good for wellbeing, and half claim they benefit overall health. For two in five, even just the word ‘snug’ generates feelings of contentment and happiness.
This new research, conducted by leading wood burning stove brand, Contura, and released ahead of the start of our meteorological winter this Sunday, has found ‘Cosyology’ – the art of getting cosy – is crucial to helping us make it through the winter feeling happier and healthier.
“For the majority of us, modern living is pretty relentless” says Catharina Björkman, Swedish lifestyle expert at Contura.
“Our research shows that taking some time out to relax and wind down has a positive effect not only on our mood, but on our overall wellbeing.
“Whilst we all enjoy the revelries that come with the busy social season in the run up to Christmas, we can inevitably end up feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. It’s important to find the right balance to avoid burnout and stress.”
Psychologist, Dr Becky Spelman, says that the snug feeling associated with being in our home leaves us feeling comforted and content.
“As a species we are fundamentally territorial, which means for most people home is very important on an emotional as well as practical level.
“During the winter months, with the long hours of darkness, it makes sense for us to want to hunker down in our ‘den’, taking care of ourselves and the people and things we hold dear.”
“Scandinavians have a word – hygge in Denmark, mysig in Sweden – that encompasses the concept of ‘snug’ but goes further, to incorporate the emotions associated with friendship, togetherness, cosiness and charm.
“This is the feeling that we are all aspiring to when we plan a cosy night in, on our own or with our loved ones.”
The findings reveal that we are prioritising our welfare. Nine in 10 agree that taking time out for self-care is important, with nights in making us feel relaxed (57 percent), rested (47 percent), content (41 percent) and happy (35 percent).
And it’s good news that we’re taking our need for downtime seriously, with over a third (37 percent) of respondents claiming they feel stressed after going a while without a night in, 1 in 5 (21 percent) feeling anxious and a third (33 percent), drained.
A huge 83 percent of us actively carves out time to look after our personal wellbeing by doing things such as disconnecting from social media (20 percent), enjoying a soak in the bath (45 percent), choosing a night in over a night out (46 percent), or reading a book (50 percent).
There is no doubt; we’re addicted to our cosy time. More than four in ten admit they struggle to go more than three days without having a night in before feeling they need one, while three in 10 Brits claim they would ideally spend all seven nights of the week at home in the colder months. A further fifth need at least five nights in a week in winter.
It’s no surprise then, that for over two thirds of Brits, cosy nights in are one of their favourite things about the winter months, with a massive 7 in 10 preferring a night in over a night out when the winter season hits.
Dr Spleman, added: “The chemical serotonin has an effect on how relaxed and happy one feels and tends to be more associated with summer months. When the levels dip in winter, this can lead to Seasonal Affective Disorder.
“Finding pleasure and sources of happiness at home, by focusing on our own comfort and wellbeing, is an adaptive way of responding to challenging environmental conditions.
“It is very encouraging to hear that so many Britons seem to genuinely understand the importance of taking some time out for themselves and that it is not selfish or wrong to dedicate attention to their own wellbeing.
“By ensuring that we carve some time out of our busy lives to focus on our wellbeing, we are recharging our emotional and intellectual batteries and ensuring that, when we get back to our responsibilities, we will be in a better place to cater for others’ needs, as well as our own.
“Dedicating some time in our lives to enjoying being snug, cosy and happy in the comfort of our own home is not just lovely, it’s also part of a balanced, healthy approach to self-care.”
TOP 10 WAYS BRITS GET ‘SNUG’ TO IMPROVE WELLBEING IN WINTER:
- Watching a film/TV
- Having a hot drink, e.g. tea/coffee/hot chocolate
- Lying on the sofa
- Wrapping up in a blanket
- Getting into bed
- Closing the curtain/shutters/blinds
- Eating warming home cooked food
- Hearing or watching the weather outside (rain, wind, storm)
- Wearing slippers or fluffy socks
- Wearing pyjamas
TOP 10 SOUNDS THAT MAKE US FEEL MOST COSY:
- Rain against the window
- A crackling log fire
- Strong winds heard from indoors
- Cats purring
- Thunderstorms
- Birds singing
- Bacon sizzling
- Radio or music on in the background
- Bath running
- Food bubbling on the hob
For more information on Contura: www.contura.eu
For Contura images (lifestyle and cut-out): www.conturanewsroom.com
-Ends-
Notes to editors:
- Research of 2,000 UK adults conducted by OnePoll in October 2019.
- Contura product images available to download via Contura Newsroom: www.conturanewsroom.com
For further press information, please contact:
Elsa Findlay | Jo Kendall | Julie Aguilera
Rooster PR
T: +44 (0)20 3440 8930
E: [email protected]
About Contura:
Contura is Europe’s leading manufacturer of wood burning stoves, offering an extensive range of classic and contemporary wood burners; from traditional insert stoves suitable for existing fireplaces, to freestanding statement models made with innovative materials such as soapstone.
Starting at £1,295, Contura stoves are premium yet affordable. Award winning, timeless Swedish design means the products complement or enhance any style of home, whilst also offering outstanding performance, maximum efficiency, practicality and ease of use.
Designed and assembled at the factory located in Markaryd, Sweden, and manufactured to the highest standards, all Contura stoves are eco-design friendly, energy efficient, offering powerful convection, superior combustion technology and clean burning systems. Currently, 95% of Contura stoves are DEFRA Clean Air Act exempt and thus approved for use in Smoke Control Areas.
Contura stoves can be purchased through a network of 165 independent retailers nationwide.
Contura is part of the NIBE group, a Swedish manufacturing company producing world class solutions in sustainable energy across Europe, North America, Asia and Australia.
Contura is a founding member of the Stove Industry Alliance (SIA) in the UK.
For more information please visit www.contura.eu
About Dr Becky Spelman:
Dr Becky Spelman is a cognitive behavioural, Psychodynamic and EMDR Practitioner. For more information, visit: https://theprivatetherapyclinic.co.uk/dr-becky-spelman/
