An article from SWNS Digital.
A
study of 2,000 adults found that a tenth feel they need a night in
after just 1 night out over the winter.
And
a third would happily spend EVERY night at home during the winter
months, with 66% saying nights in are one of their favourite things
about the season.
It
also emerged 6 in 10 of those polled, by wood burning stove
manufacturer Contura, ‘need’ a
certain amount of cosiness in their lives to feel great, with two
thirds believing relaxing nights in are good for their wellbeing.
Swedish
lifestyle expert at Contura,Catharina Björkman, said: “For the
majority of us, modern living is pretty relentless.
“While
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."
The
survey also found 7 in 10 prefer a night in to a going out during the
colder season.
More
than 3 in 10 believe this downtime at home is vital to achieve a good
work-life balance, while half go so far as to claim it’s important
their overall health.
On
their nights in, one in five have disconnected from social media, 45%
take time out by enjoying a soak in the bath, and 31% slip into comfy
PJs.
4
in 10 also get their snug on through the winter by lying on the sofa,
having hot drinks and wrapping up in a blanket.
A
quarter of those surveyed, via One Poll,
also love having a log fire burning, and 1 in 5 said having music on
or the smell of candles makes them feel cosy.
However,
settling down to watch TV or popping the kettle on are the nation’s
go-to ways to feel snug, at 47% and 41% cent respectively.
Psychologist
Dr Becky Spelman said: “As a
species we are fundamentally territorial, which means for most people
home is very important on an emotional, as well as a 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 or 'mysig' in Sweden - that
encompasses the concept of ‘snug’.
“This
is the feeling that we all aspire to when we plan a cosy night in -
on our own, or with our loved ones.”
“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.
“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.”
THE
TOP 20 THINGS THAT MAKE US FEEL ‘SNUG’
1.
Watching a film/TV
2.
Having a hot drink
3.
Lying on the sofa
4.
Being wrapped in a blanket
5.
Getting into bed
6.
Closing the curtain/shutters/blinds
7.
Eating warming home-cooked food
8.
Hearing or watching the weather outside (rain, wind, storm)
9.
Wearing slippers or fluffy socks
10.
Wearing pyjamas
11.
Dimming the lights
12.
Cuddling a loved one
13.
Having a bath
14.
Having candles lit
15.
Having a log fire burning
16.
The smell of a scented candle
17.
Snuggling with a pet
18.
Having music on
19.
Having snacks, e.g. popcorn, chocolate, cake
20.
Ordering a takeaway
No comments:
Post a Comment