If you are afraid of hearing a Christmas tune, know that you are not alone.
There are many Christmas traditions that benefit your wealth. Research has shown that holiday decorations can make people feel more fun, and the laughter that makes reading funny letters to Santa Claus or Santa Claus is good for you, too. But there is one thing that can harm mental health. Listening to Christmas music sometimes has negative consequences.
Do not misunderstand, because listening to your favorite holiday melody that brings you back to fond memories of childhood and gives you a good mood is one thing. But when you avoid going to the supermarket because you hear Mariah Carey sing, “All I want for Christmas is you,” that’s a whole different story. After the shops are decorated for the New Year, those same Christmas songs begin to play in them. And the festive mood appears in them long before December 31, so the danger comes much earlier.
Research has shown that music really affects our thoughts and actions, even when played in the background. In 1999, the American magazine “Applied Psychology” published a paper that confirmed that people buy French wine if French music is playing. And if you include German songs, then the buyer is more likely to choose German wines. Retail stores and supermarkets include Christmas carols in the hope that caring parents will buy more toys for their children. However, this strategy does not always work effectively.
Many people are literally afraid of holiday music. This was revealed in 2011 after a survey by Consumer Reports magazine. According to the results, 23% of respondents react negatively to New Year’s songs. And they can be understood, because for some, New Year or Christmas becomes a stressful time. For a person who broke up with their other half during or before the holidays, the New Year’s atmosphere can be depressing. In such cases, Christmas music only makes the situation worse.
According to experts, the consequences are most pronounced when you listen to melodies on repeat. This phenomenon is called the simple impact effect. We can enjoy the song every time we hear it, but sooner or later the pleasure reaches its peak. After that, our favorite tune may be disgusting to us, especially if it has been listened to too many times. “Anyone who has worked in a Christmas shop during the holidays will understand what I’m talking about,” psychologist Victoria Williamson told BestLife.
“Supermarket workers need to learn to distance themselves from Christmas music because if they don’t, they will be unable to focus on anything else. You just waste all your energy not listening to what you hear, ”says clinical psychologist Linda Blair. In the end, if you want to stay healthy and happy, sometimes you should stop listening even to everyone’s favorite Christmas songs.