(KNSI) — If you need a little Christmas, right this very minute, do it.
Decorating for Christmas early really can make us happier, according to science. Psychologist Kelly Sopchak says hauling out the holly and filling up the stockings brings a rush of nostalgia. “We know that that excitement about what’s going to come activate our rewards system. If you’re thinking about in a positive way about ‘yay! Hope and future!’ and time with family or friends, you get that dopamine.”
Smells also play a huge part in the mood boost, so foods, mulled cider, or the smell of a tree can remind us of Christmases past. “Reminiscing on the positive aspect of it, we have an increase in feelings of social connectedness that’s going to increase the mood.”
If you’re not ready to put the tree up just yet, using an air freshener or burning a candle that smells like one can do the trick.
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