“Cozymaxxing,” the latest self-care trend taking TikTok by storm, involves intentionally creating a comforting and relaxing environment to promote stress relief and enhance overall well-being. This trend emphasizes the use of sensory experiences to heighten physical and emotional comfort, encouraging a mindful return to intentional comfort-seeking. With a focus on creating personalized cozy spaces and routines, cozymaxxing offers a practical approach to self-soothing and stress management in today’s fast-paced world.
What is Cozymaxxing? Defining the Trend
Cozymaxxing is a self-care practice centered around using your senses to maximize physical and emotional comfort, ultimately embodying a sense of coziness. It involves curating your environment and habits to prioritize relaxation and coziness.
On TikTok, the #cozymaxxing tag showcases individuals engaging in comforting activities like:
- Wrapping themselves in fluffy blankets.
- Dimming lights and lighting candles.
- Enjoying favorite TV shows and movies.
- Listening to calming music.
- Baking cookies and enjoying comforting foods.
There is no one “right” way to cozymaxx, as long as the practices incorporated bring comfort and calm. According to licensed professional counselor Amanda White, cozymaxxing represents a “mindful rebellion against hustle culture and a return to intentional comfort-seeking”.
Mental Health Benefits of Cozymaxxing
Experts suggest cozymaxxing can offer numerous mental health benefits:
- Stress Reduction: A cozy, predictable environment signals safety to the brain, reducing cortisol levels and promoting relaxation.
- Improved Emotional Regulation: Consciously relaxing and getting cozy can provide time for reflection and emotional management. Engaging in comforting activities supports the parasympathetic nervous system, responsible for the body’s “rest and digest” functions.
- Increased Mindfulness: By accumulating positive experiences and sensations, cozymaxxing can redirect attention away from negative thoughts and feelings, enhancing the ability to be mindful of the present moment.
- Sense of Control: Making your environment comfortable can help you feel in control, especially when external stressors are overwhelming.
- Combating Negative Feelings: Cozymaxxing can help build excitement and anticipation, effectively combating feelings of FOMO, depression, and loneliness.
- Better Sleep: Practicing cozymaxxing close to bedtime can enhance sleep quality by reducing stress and anxiety, factors often linked to poor sleep.
How to Start Cozymaxxing: Practical Tips
Getting started with cozymaxxing is simple and involves curating your space and habits to maximize comfort:
- Create a Comforting Environment: Add soft lighting, blankets, warm colors, and calming scents like lavender or vanilla to create a calming atmosphere.
- Engage the Five Senses: Incorporate cozy textures, gentle lighting, calming music, comforting foods, and soothing aromas.
- Limit Digital Distractions: Reduce screen time to be more present in your cozy environment.
- Integrate Rest with Movement and Social Connection: Balance coziness with physical activity and social interaction for a sustainable self-care practice.
- Develop a Wind-Down Ritual: Create an evening routine with soft music and mindful bathing rituals.
Cozymaxxing ideas:
- Create layered lighting with multiple sources like table lamps, string lights, and candles.
- Incorporate different textures through soft throws, plush pillows, and varied textiles.
- Use calming scents through candles or essential oils.
- Practice mindful bathing rituals with bath salts.
- Do low-impact movement, like cozy cardio, stretching, or yoga, while wearing comfortable clothes.
Cozymaxxing vs. Minimalism: Finding Your Balance
While cozymaxxing embraces comfort and abundance, it can be contrasted with minimalism, which emphasizes simplicity and functionality. Many people find themselves somewhere in between these two styles, appreciating the calm of minimalism while still wanting the warmth of a cozy home.
Cozy Minimalism:
Cozy minimalism combines the best of both styles, restricting yourself to the minimum possible while keeping your comfort in mind. It’s about finding your style and using just enough to portray the look and atmosphere you’re after.
Key aspects of cozy minimalism include:
- Intentionality: Knowing what to use in each space and being selective about the items you bring into your home.
- Function and Comfort: Focusing on both the functionality of a space and its comfort.
- Warmth and Simplicity: Creating a space that is warm and comforting but not suffocating.
- Adding Texture: Incorporating texture through fuzzy rugs and blankets to make a minimalist design feel cozy.
- Personal Touches: Including personal items like family photos, books, and mementos to add character and warmth.
Tips for finding a balance between minimalism and cozy comfort:
- Choose minimalist furniture but add soft throws and cushions.
- Keep a neutral color scheme with warm, natural textures.
- Focus on fewer + big instead of many + small.
- Only add what will serve the people who use the room.
- Add warmth and personality to the space using only things you truly love.
Potential Pitfalls of Cozymaxxing
While cozymaxxing offers numerous benefits, it’s important to be mindful of potential downsides:
- Overspending: Avoid getting caught up in buying excessive items to create the “perfect” cozy aesthetic.
- Envy: Don’t feel pressured to buy everything shown in TikTok videos, as this can lead to feelings of envy and undermine the true purpose of self-care.
- Avoidance: Cozymaxxing should be seen as a tool for restoration rather than avoidance of responsibilities or difficult emotions.
The Expert Perspective
Brooke Schwartz, a licensed psychotherapist, describes cozymaxxing as intentionally creating comfort and calm through your senses. Ken Fierheller, a registered psychotherapist, defines it as “intentionally curating your home and habits to prioritize relaxation and coziness.”
Experts emphasize that cozymaxxing can be a healthy self-care practice when balanced with movement, connection, and purpose. It is essential to approach cozymaxxing as a tool for stress management and mental well-being, rather than a substitute for professional mental health treatment. Experts recommend regular “mental health check-ins” when practicing self-care to ensure it remains beneficial.
Cozymaxxing: A Path to Enhanced Well-being
Cozymaxxing, as a self-care trend, offers a practical and accessible way to enhance mental well-being by creating comforting and relaxing environments. By engaging the senses and prioritizing relaxation, individuals can effectively manage stress, improve emotional regulation, and cultivate a greater sense of mindfulness. While it’s important to avoid potential pitfalls like overspending and avoidance, cozymaxxing can be a valuable tool for promoting overall health when practiced in a balanced and intentional way.
