The second I get home, I slip into my “house clothes”—anything loose, soft, and somewhat resemblant of a Snuggie. And the moment the temperature dips below 65, the homebody in me comes out (along with a hot matcha latte, the chunkiest throw, and Hallmark Christmas movies). I’ve never been a trendsetter, but I was cozymaxxing long before TikTok turned it into a trend. “Cozymaxxing” is the latest buzzword leveling “cozy” all the way up in the name of slowing down, resetting the nervous system, and boosting mood. It’s no doubt the antidote of anxiety and burnout (especially helpful right now in the season of S.A.D.), but I wanted to know why it’s resonating beyond the comfort and vibes. So I chatted with mental health experts to get the full picture of how much the latest TikTok trend can actually help. Here’s everything you need to know about “cozymaxxing.”
Experts Consulted
At The Everygirl, we believe that wellness advice should be grounded in accurate, science-backed information to ensure our readers can make informed decisions about their health and well-being. That’s why we prioritize consulting trusted, credible experts—so every piece of content is both reliable and empowering.
Lalo Rivera, LPC, Mental Health Counselor
Lalo Rivera is a licensed professional counselor and somatic experiencing practitioner, specializing in trauma recovery and mind-body healing approaches. With extensive training in Somatic Body Psychotherapy, Rivera helps teens and adults overcome trauma, anxiety, depression, and grief through innovative body-centered and expressive therapies.
Sarah Turner, Psychotherapist
Sarah Turner is a psychotherapist with over 20 years’ experience and a specialist in emotion regulation. Having worked in private practice and leading clinical settings, she founded Flourish Midlife, a six-week therapeutic programme helping women navigate change with practical strategies to manage the mental load, prioritize themselves (guilt- free), and act on fulfilling long-shelved ambitions.
What Is Cozymaxxing?
“Cozymaxxing is a new addition to the self-care lexicon that describes intentionally creating a multi-sensory environment that cultivates tranquility, peace, supreme comfort, and coziness,” explained Lalo Rivera, a licensed professional counselor and founder of The Listening Body Counseling Services. “Cozymaxxing is meant to not only soothe you on a physical level but also on a psychological/mental level as well.”
You’ve likely seen some iteration of cozymaxxing by now: a woman cocooned in a plush blanket, lights turned low with the soft flicker of a candle somewhere just out of frame, Gilmore Girls on repeat while cookies bake in the oven. But cozymaxxing is more than a mood board IRL—it’s going all in to the kind of comfort that feels necessary to actually slow down and feel at ease. “Cozymaxxing is a form of self-regulation when you intentionally maximize your own comfort—physically, mentally, and emotionally,” explained Sarah Turner, a psychotherapist and founder of Flourish Midlife. “It takes the idea of ‘getting cozy’ and turns it into a mindful practice, using gentle, nurturing cues to signal safety to your nervous system.”
It’s adjacent to hygge (a Danish concept encompassing a feeling of cozy contentment and well-being often associated with winter and cozy vibes), but with a key distinction. Turner pointed out that while hygge leans shared coziness, like enjoying a slow meal or candlelit conversation with loved ones, cozymaxxing is more focused on turning inward and creating soothing moments for you. “Both can be incredibly beneficial, and integrating a sense of togetherness can deepen the emotional impact,” she continued. But perhaps the best part of cozymaxxing is that there’s no prescribed formula, no checklist, no right or wrong way to do it.
Health Benefits of Cozymaxxing
Turns on rest-digest-connect mode
When stress drags on (hi, holidays), Rivera said your nervous system begins to operate from a place of “fight-or-flight.” All your body’s energy reroutes to the perceived threat, which is why you can’t sleep, your stomach is bloated, and everyone you love is getting on your nerves. But Turner shared that when you surround yourself with calming sensory input—a calming candle, soft blankets, cozy pajamas—you’re turning off the internal alarms and telling your brain and body, hey, we’re safe now. That gets you out of survival mode and into rest and digest, the parasympathetic state where your body can rest and restore. “Cozymaxxing lowers heart rate and cortisol and creates more safety and relaxation, which allows for better sleep, better health/mental health overall, and more capacity to connect with others,” Rivera said.
Increases resilience
According to Turner, that nervous system reset doesn’t just feel good—it helps reduce stress, ease anxiety, and create a felt sense of safety. And that security is the foundation emotional resilience grows from. Rivera added that when we’re depleted, we don’t have a lot to give, and even minor stressors can feel unmanageable and send us spiraling. But on the flip side, cozymaxxing refills our empty reserves: “Cozymaxxing activities, such as sitting by and gazing into a fire or drinking a warm beverage, can fill our bodies and beings up with a deep sense of ease and contentment, thereby expanding our capacity to meet a new day with more adaptability and resilience.”
Gives you permission to slow down
There’s a reason why When Harry Met Sally always finds it way back into your queue. It’s nostalgia doing what it does best: offering comfort, security, and a familiar escape from stress. The science behind that feeling? Turner explained that building a cozy routine reminds you that you can actively shape your own environment. “Creating pockets of coziness gives your mind permission to decompress, which can boost mood and reduce the emotional exhaustion that leads to burnout.”
Shorter days naturally downshift our bodies into low-power mode—the perfect excuse to cancel plans, put on the holiday classic you could recite in your sleep, and end the night with a long, hot bath (AKA cozymaxxing). “Cozymaxxing emphasizes slower rhythms and a quieter pace, which is typically in stark contrast to most of our daily lives,” Rivera said. “Spending time regularly slowing down helps to rewire our bodies and brains, which allows us to release patterns of tension and vigilance while increasing our ability to be more present with ourselves as well as with others.”
Increases social connection
As Turner mentioned, cozymaxxing gets even more powerful when you make it communal. After all, humans are wired for warmth, and the science proves that: The quality of our social connections predicts a long and happy life more than our physical or mental well-being, genes, social class, or IQ. Fostering meaningful relationships doesn’t require elaborate plans or big spending. It can be as simple as slipping into your comfiest pajamas for a board game with your SO, laughing through a comfort-movie night in with your best friend, Trader’s Joe’s holiday treats within reach, or quietly reading side by side with your sister. No matter the activity, Rivera said you’re co-creating a sense of security and togetherness.
How to Start Cozymaxxing
Both Rivera and Turner agreed that tapping into your five senses—touch, sight, hearing, taste, and smell—will get you the most out of cozymaxxing. “Ask yourself what helps your body feel safe and calm—warmth, soft textures, quiet, nature sounds, low lighting,” Turner suggested. But Rivera cautioned against overwhelming yourself and going overboard with cozymaxxing your space. The point isn’t to overhaul your home overnight. “The pace at which you create your new environment should feel supportive, motivating, and inspiring.”
Here are other cozymaxxing tips and tricks they suggested:
- Wear or bring into your home colors that cultivate warmth and serenity (think: warm neutrals, muted earth tones, and cozy browns)
- Turn off or dim all overhead lighting and light candles
- Layer on various fabrics to your couch, reading chair, or bed (like flannel pajamas and cotton sheets, silk pillowcases, soft throws, and plush pillows)
- Opt for a scent (in a candle, diffuser, or perfume) that has anti-stress properties like ylang ylang, lavender, and sage
- Build small sensory cues into your day, like lighting a candle in the evening or having a cozy throw easily accessible
- Make one stress-free change to create a more peaceful or calm environment, like adding a plant, artwork, or personal photos
- Create a simple ritual you can return to: sipping on a cup of tea after work, reading for 10 minutes before bed, or taking a warm bath once a week
- Pair cozymaxxing with caring for your physical needs: eating nourishing meals, staying hydrated, getting rest, and limiting alcohol, especially during busy or emotionally-charged seasons
- Do some cozy cardio while watching a comfort show
- Give yourself permission to step away by setting boundaries around screen time, work, or obligations so you can truly relax into the comfort you’re creating
Katherine Chang, Wellness Staff Writer
Katherine Chang is The Everygirl’s Wellness Staff Writer with over five years of experience in the health and wellness space. She navigates the latest wellness topics and trends through expert interviews and studies, and she’s always first in line to try them firsthand.
Feature graphic images credited to: Hatti Webster | Dupe, Dilara | Pexels, Chloe Christianson | Dupe, Laura Vivas Henry | Dupe, Nathamag11 | Adobe Stock
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Source: Cosmo Politian
