People who put up Christmas decorations early are happier according to science

When are you planning on putting your Christmas decorations up?

Research from psychoanalyst Steve McKeown at The McKeown Clinic suggests the golden time to implement some Christmas cheer comes immediately after Halloween.

"In a world full of stress and anxiety, people like to associate with things that make them happy, and Christmas decorations evoke those strong feelings of childhood," McKeown told Unilad.

"Decorations are simply an anchor or pathway to those old childhood magical emotions of excitement.

"So putting up those Christmas decorations early extends the excitement."

Psychotherapist Amy Morin echoes McKeown's claims, explaining that the nostalgia element of Christmas decorations naturally improves our mental well-being.

"Nostalgia helps link people to their personal past, and it helps people understand their identity. For many, putting up Christmas decorations early is a way for them to reconnect with their childhoods."

She also suggests that it can help people to feel closer to dead loved ones, saying that: "decorating early may help them feel more connected with that individual."

But there is also the polar opposite of these situations. Other people suffering from addiction, depression, anxiety, or eating disorders may find the festive period particularly hard, reports the Priory Group.

So if putting up your decorations early gives you that much-needed boost of energy, then do just that. Screw the curtain peepers down the street. Cover your house in all shades of red, white, and green.