DECORATE EARLY, LIFT YOUR MOOD

Those who decry early Christmas decorating may be on the wrong side of the debate, according to mental health experts, NBC recently reported.

A study in the Journal of Environmental Psychology found decorating for Christmas connects you to childhood feelings of nostalgia and excitement, ultimately benefiting the decorator’s state of mind. For those with happy memories of Christmas, the familiar forms of festive celebration contribute to a positive outlook, according to Florida Gulf Coast University counselling professor Yaro Garcia. “(It’s) the sight and the smell and what you’re hearing, so, yes all of these senses put together attached to a really positive memory can bring happiness,” Garcia said. Unfortunately, those with fewer happy memories of the season may instead find that decorating triggers malaise, says Garcia.