If You Put Up Your Christmas Decorations In November, You May Be A Happier Person

Hands up if you start decorating for Christmas on November 1! As soon as Halloween is over, I'm unpacking my Christmas tree, whipping out my (faux) fur-lined stockings and pressing play on the first Mariah Carey Christmas song I can find.

If you too have an irresistible urge to hum carols and deck the halls months before December 25, you're probably no stranger to the stares, huffs and bah humbugs you receive every year. After all, there are only two kinds of people in this world when it comes to Christmas: Those who embrace the season to be jolly, and those who absolutely do not.

But there are glad tidings for those of us who can't wait to dust off our snow globes every year — people who put up their Christmas decorations early may actually be happier. According to psychology experts, if you're itching to get festive, you're more in touch with your inner child. Putting up your Christmas decorations earlier can make you feel happier by reminding you of your childhood before you had to deal with stresses and responsibilities.

“Although there could be a number of symptomatic reasons why someone would want to obsessively put up decorations early, most commonly for nostalgic reasons either to relive the magic or to compensate for past neglect," Steve McKeown, Psychoanalyst, founder of MindFixers, and owner of The McKeown Clinic, told UNILAD.

“In a world full of stress and anxiety people like to associate to things that make them happy and Christmas decorations evoke those strong feelings of the childhood."

“Decorations are simply an anchor or pathway to those old childhood magical emotions of excitement. So putting up those Christmas decorations early extends the excitement!"

So it seems that what Christmas-lovers have known for years might be true — overdecorating your house with tons of bells, tinsel, and mistletoe really does make you happier. But did you know it could also help you bond with your neighbours?

Research published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology found that Christmas decorations might make you appear friendlier. Their theory is that when someone sees your house decorated for the holidays, they could see it as a warm and welcoming gesture and want to communicate more.

Folks, there's nothing but positives when it comes to putting up your festive decorations early! Don't let the scrooges rain on your parade.