Science has spoken: People who put up Christmas decorations early are happier.
Steve McKeown, a psychoanalyst and owner of The McKeown Clinic, told Unilad that putting decorations up early is a straight-shooting neurological pipeline to the warm and fuzzy feelings of nostalgia around your childhood Christmases.
“In a world of stress and anxiety, people like to associate to things that make them happy and Christmas decorations evoke those strong feelings of childhood,” McKeown said.
“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!”
Research from a study in the Journal of Environmental Psychology backs this up, arguing that houses with decorations on the outside are considered more “friendly and cohesive,” and their occupants more sociable and accessible in the holiday season.
In short, don’t force yourself to restrain your Christmas cheer until Sunday December 3, the traditional beginning of the holiday period. Go forth and deck the halls with boughs of holly. Consider this your official invitation.