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Science Proves that Decorating Early for Christmas Makes us Happier

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Tony Maples Photography

 

Who says you can’t start decorating for Christmas early? Now science has proof that getting into the holiday spirit a little earlier can make you happier. “According to a study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology, decorations can bring up happy childhood memories,” shared the YouTube video below by KRIS 6 News in Corpus Christi, Texas.

So who are we to argue with science if you would like to deck out your home for the holidays ASAP? In case you haven’t noticed, it seems like Christmas comes a little early each and every year. We seem to go straight from Halloween to—bam!—Christmas lights everywhere. The commercials and Hallmark channel are partly to blame as they are already in full gear, showcasing those beloved movies that tug at your heart and during the commercials you just can’t miss those holiday gift ads.

Video: YouTube/KRIS 6 News

You can’t deny that the decorations seem to have gone up even before Halloween around the shopping malls. Now that is just not right! But who am I to argue, as this Hill Country reporter is a fan of putting up the Christmas decorations a bit early… like, say, this weekend.

An article by today.com had this theory to share on the notion of decorating early, “Psychologist Deborah Serani told TODAY Home it’s true: Decorating can definitely lift your mood. ‘It does create that neurological shift that can produce happiness,’ she said. ‘I think anything that takes us out of our normal habituation, the normal day in, day out … signals our senses, and then our senses measure if it’s pleasing or not.'” The feel-good hormone dopamine comes into play, Serani went on to share. As we decorate for Christmas, those happy thoughts seem to increase.

Of course, not everyone has those fond memories to reflect on, which can make this time of year not as merry. The advice for these folks is to start a new tradition of their own, whether it be volunteering for those in needs, attending a movie as a family, or taking a vacation. This new tradition will, in turn, create a new psychological association with the season!

So go ahead and break out those decorations as research has also shown, according to today.com, that folks associate seeing Christmas decorations on a home as a sign that the people inside are more sociable. Yes, we still have Thanksgiving in front of us, but who’s to argue that we can’t incorporate a little Christmas cheer by shopping for that special tree with the family and starting some new traditions to help ignite those nostalgic memories we fondly recall this time of year?