You carefully hand over the garlands of bright marigold flowers and mango leaves to your sister. As she strung them, the scent of fresh flowers filled the doorways. As you passed by the kitchen, your mother called out to you. “Try this halwa,” she said as she fed you, before you could even react. Your eyes lit up. Before you could dig another spoon, your mother gently nudged you: “Now give dad a hand, he’s hanging the rice lamp in the living room.” You see your father struggling to remove the lamp. He raised his hand in surrender when he saw you approaching him. He really could use a little help. Your sister starts drawing the outline of the rangoli. Her eyes sparkled as the soft light from the lantern you turned on filled the room. Does this image lift your spirits? Well, this is exactly how festive decorations can lift your mood!From Diwali lanterns and rangoli to Christmas Plants and lighting, specific decorations are a part of different cultures and studies have proven that it has a positive impact on your mental health.
(Photo courtesy: iStock)
Psychologist and author Deborah Serani told CNN that festive lights, colors and music have the ability to boost mental health and mood. She said that humans are used and used to their current environment, however, when we introduce new things into our environment, it stimulates the senses. Introducing new colors, lights, sounds and music will make you feel good. A study conducted by the Swiss National Science Foundation supports the hypothesis that physical exposure to color can reduce stress and anxiety. Researchers conducted two studies with more than 60 participants and used color therapy to measure the effects on stress and anxiety. Comparing before and after scores, they found that stress and anxiety levels both decreased. The festive decorations also evoke nostalgia. Good memories of the holiday season will come flooding back and those happy memories will lift your mood. Likewise, the Christmas season brings a lot of joy. Speaking with Well+Good, Neha Chaudhary, MD, a double board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital observed how the dark days of winter can make people What it’s like to feel the winter blues – ‘Seasonal Affective Disorder’ and hanging decorations and lights during this time, can lift the mood.
(Photo courtesy: iStock)
According to research published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology, holiday decorations also have an impact on sociability. When people in the neighborhood see houses decorated during the holiday season, they perceive them as approachable and friendly. Nowadays, people often start holiday decorations early and that really has a big impact on one’s mental health. During the festive season, when you start decorating and this makes you more inclined to ‘act happy’, this will eventually make you happy. This idea originates from cognitive behavioral therapy. You may have heard a therapist encourage you to ‘act as if’.
So what are you waiting for hang those lanterns, light up those diy lights and light up those spooky carved pumpkins and lights. Let the holiday season begin!
