“People who put up Christmas decorations early are happier according to psychology experts”  reads the title to an article on the Go Social website that caught my eye today. Being in the business of helping people learn to feel good about themselves, my curiosity was piqued.

I was also wondering what I had missed out on as the wife of a Forester who saw no sense in a fake tree when we could have a real one for free. Each Christmas for the past 22 years I would wistfully admire the perfectly symmetrical, non drooping trees of others while mine – once we got it mid December – always looked rather sad in comparison.

Now I’m wondering. Are the psychology experts on to something?

Psychoanalyst Steve McKeown writes, “In a world full of stress and anxiety people like to associate to things that make them happy and Christmas decorations evoke these strong feelings of the childhood. Decorations are simply an anchor or pathway to those old childhood magical emotions of excitement. So putting up those decorations early extends the excitement!”

Now I’m all about playing and having fun and if getting festive earlier than usual is another way of doing that, then I’m in!

So at a time of year that is commonly stressful and exhausting for many, try getting festive. Allow it to encourage the child in you to be a little more playful and to feel nurtured, excited and happy.

Oh, and this year we have a fake tree and we put it up on December 1st to loud Christmas music and plenty of dancing.  We had a blast! The whole family are enjoying the joyful festive feelings as we prepare for the Christmas season.

I think there is a wonderful point here –

Get your festive on!