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“Why all this illumination? Even in September, the city began to decorate! — some are outraged. “But I like it — I myself have already put up a Christmas tree,” others disagree. Everyone has the right to adhere to any of these positions, but, perhaps, from the point of view of mental well-being, the latter are right. And that’s why.
“To decorate the Christmas tree and decorate the house on the morning of December 31 is our family tradition,” says Arina. “Personally, it helps me to create the right mood, to switch from work tasks that my head was occupied with the night before.”
And the girl is terribly annoyed by the fact that the first “signs of the holiday” began to appear on social networks almost in November: TikTok users shared videos of “magical New Year transformations” of the space, friends posted photos on Instagram (an extremist organization banned in Russia) decorated Christmas trees. And … perhaps they did the right thing.
2020 has become for many a year of uncertainty and stress, instability and loss, loss of familiar landmarks and what is so important: freedom of movement, confidence in the future, work — the list is endless. And the feeling of a holiday familiar from childhood is exactly what most of us need now.
“People are terribly short of reasons to be happy and joyful,” explains psychologist Melissa Robinson-Brown. “They need to grab on to something, somehow regain their peace of mind — especially considering that many will not be able to spend the holidays the way they are used to: with family, with loved ones, or abroad, skiing or basking on beach.»
Covid-19 has put those holiday plans on hold as well – so what else do we have left? Just create beauty around you.
“Stop tormenting yourself with questions like “why” and “isn’t it too early”. If you feel that the lights on the window can cheer you up a little, just hang them, advises psychologist Ryan Howes. “And let them hang on the window at least until May, if only you feel good.”
It would seem, how can a decorated Christmas tree help an emotional and mental state? But what.
1. Memories of happy times
Having taken out a box with Christmas decorations, inhaling the smell of tinsel, straightening the branches, it is easy to immerse yourself in happy childhood memories (we hope that they are just like that for you). This would be especially useful for those who this year are cut off from loved ones and cannot spend New Year’s Eve with them. And the sooner you decorate the house, the longer the feeling of celebration and miracle will last.
“It’s no secret that our thoughts, emotions, and behavior are closely linked,” says psychotherapist Erlanger Turner. “So being able to immerse yourself in happy memories is an effective way to prevent or reduce stress and anxiety.”
How to dive deeper into the wonderful past? Psychologist Rebecca Leslie advises using your sense of smell: choose, buy and light a candle whose scent will remind you of your grandmother’s vacation, or put a live Christmas tree or at least twigs instead of an artificial one, just like your parents did when you were little.
2. An opportunity to escape from the adversity of 2020
Running away from feelings, even the most unpleasant ones, is not an option: it is important to live through all the emotions that the outgoing year has caused and continues to cause in us. But this does not mean that we should be sad and worried 24 hours a day.
We all need a breather and an opportunity to take a break from what is happening in the world for a while. And home decoration is a great opportunity to arrange such a vacation for yourself. And at the same time do something with your hands.
3. A way to take back control
2020 has literally knocked the ground out from under our feet. Many have lost a sense of control over their own lives. We feel helpless, because it is not in our power to stop the pandemic, to protect loved ones.
The way out is to focus on what we can still manage. For example, it is in our power to decide when, with what and how to decorate the house. It would seem a mere trifle, but, on the other hand, creating an oasis of comfort and tranquility in the midst of the chaos reigning in the world is not such a trifle.
4. A reason to wait for something good
Even if you spend the holidays the way you are used to, this year will not work out, for sure the New Year holidays promise at least something pleasant: the opportunity to watch your favorite movies, take a walk with the children, bake cookies — finally, take a break from work and just sleep. A festively decorated living room, decorated Christmas tree and scented candles placed around the house will help you to look forward to it.
Important «but»
Of course, the advice to quickly decorate the house for the New Year and Christmas is not universal: not everyone had a happy childhood and not everyone loves holidays. For some, this is the darkest time of the year, because these days they especially felt loneliness, while others lost loved ones during this period.
“If the New Year brings up painful memories and unpleasant emotions, then, of course, you should not open a box of New Year’s decorations,” advises Rebecca Leslie.
Listen to yourself: if you have always loved this time of year, but now you are experiencing an acute longing due to the inability to spend the holidays with your loved ones, you should not torture yourself once again.
“If the outgoing 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that we need to listen to ourselves and prioritize our own psychological well-being and health,” reminds Ryan Howes. So do what you want and feel right. And it doesn’t matter what others say.