People Who Decorate for Christmas Earlier are Happier

The holidays can be stressful but instead of saying "Bah Humbug," maybe you should put up a few Christmas decorations because psychologists say it might make you happier.

According to the website Unilad breaking out your favorite decorations and trimming a tree early in the holiday season will not only fill you with the Christmas spirit but can take you back to childhood joys of the season. So for those that believe you can't put your decorations up until it is closer to December 25th-- you are missing out on festive feelings.

"In a world full of stress and anxiety people like to associate to things that make them happy and Christmas decorations evoke those strong feelings of the childhood," says Steve McKeown, Psychoanalyst, founder of MindFixers and owner of The McKeown Clinic. "Decorations are simply an anchor or pathway to those old childhood magical emotions of excitement. So putting up those Christmas decorations early extend the excitement!"

So don't worry about those neighbors who don't like you putting out the inflatable snowmen around Thanksgiving--you are doing it for a little extra holiday happiness. Some studies suggest the act of decorating the outside of your home for the holidays has more to do with creating a welcoming space for your neighbors than creating a winter wonderland for yourself. Just consider all those lights you carefully hung on your home a Christmas olive branch to those nosy neighbors that never say hello to you.

So if your decorations are already up or trimming a tree in on top of your to-do list this weekend--we say go for it! In fact, here's some easy Christmas decorating inspiration.