To tell the truth, Christmas does feel incomplete without those beautiful and dazzling Christmas lights. In fact, you could even say that Christmas lights have become a part and parcel of the celebration. The absence of Christmas lights can ruin the festive atmosphere and dampen the holiday spirit. The warm glow of Christmas lights has long been associated with festivity and the presence of which can help uplift the mood of people. There is no denying the fact that the presence of Christmas lights evokes a sense of nostalgia. In most houses in the United States, families gather around to decorate their homes with Christmas lights and which leads to a much stronger family bonding.
However, Christmas lights are not just another source of joy and inspiration; they help transform ordinary spaces into something magical and extraordinary. Science has already proved that Christmas lights act as a visual stimulus and therefore, can affect our emotions on a deeper level.
The Swiss National Science Foundation conducted a study and concluded that direct exposure to bright yet soothing colors can help people deal with stress and anxiety. When people are exposed to soothing colors, the neurons in the brain get activated automatically, helping to reduce stress levels significantly. Confirming this, psychologist Deborah Serani highlighted,
“Decorating can definitely lift your mood. It does create that neurological shift that can produce happiness. Christmas decorating will spike dopamine, a feel-good hormone.”
You might be wondering what is so special about Christmas lights and why they trigger the release of happy hormones. Deborah Serani believes she has the answer. She thinks that Chromotherapy, also known as Color Theory, could be at play. Chromotherapy acts as a happiness booster and is thought to help increase energy levels significantly.
The Psychological Effects of Light
Lights have a direct impact on human psychology, which is a well-documented fact. Some doctors even suggest that patients suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) should undergo light therapy, as it has shown promising results in treating seasonal depression. Christmas lights, similarly, can help people battling seasonal depression. The bright and colorful Christmas lights can simulate some of the positive effects of light therapy. When exposed to light, our sleep patterns see marked improvement, and you will notice a significant change in your overall mood and behavior.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that’s related to changes in seasons — seasonal affective disorder (SAD) begins and ends at about the same times every year.
Moreover, each color has its own unique psychological effect. For example, blue is thought to have a calming effect and helps reduce stress and anxiety, while yellow and red are considered to evoke a sense of joy and happiness. Pink is associated with love, whereas the color orange is associated with pleasure and excitement.
For those struggling with mental health issues, getting involved in mentally stimulating activities like decorating the home with Christmas lights can provide much-needed respite from the drab, dreary, and routine-bound life that most of us are forced to follow. This kind of activity helps us stay grounded, and the idea of turning the lights on each evening will fill you with a sense of excitement, which is hard to come by these days.
Acting Cheery Might Make You Feel Cheery
Another reason why decorating for the holidays might help you feel better is because “acting happy” can actually boost your mood. This concept is rooted in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), an evidence-based practice where therapists encourage clients to “act as if” they felt differently. By engaging in behaviors associated with positive emotions, individuals can often bring about a genuine shift in their emotional state.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of psychological treatment that has been demonstrated to be effective for a range of problems including depression, anxiety disorders, alcohol and drug use problems, marital problems, eating disorders, and severe mental illness.
The principle behind this is straightforward: changing behavior first can lead to a change in how you feel. For instance, studies have demonstrated that the simple act of smiling can trigger feelings of happiness. Engaging in enjoyable activities when you’re feeling down has also been shown to elevate mood. In a similar vein, decorating for the holidays can create an atmosphere of joy and festivity, which in turn might help you feel more cheerful and uplifted.
When you decorate your home for the holidays, you’re not just altering your environment; you’re engaging in a ritual that embodies celebration, warmth, and connection. This can be particularly powerful if you’re feeling isolated or stressed. The physical act of putting up lights, arranging ornaments, and displaying holiday-themed decorations can serve as a form of mindfulness, keeping you present and engaged in the moment. Additionally, the visual and sensory stimulation from holiday decorations can evoke positive memories and emotions, further enhancing your mood.
Social Connections and Christmas Lights
Considered to be a collaborative effort, decorating Christmas lights with friends and family can be a perfect treat for many. It will help you build a deep connection with people and it will foster teamwork in the process. Things can be spiced up even more if you decide to participate in some community events. Decorating public parks with Christmas lights is always a great idea. You can always take part in activities like Christmas parades. These activities are designed to foster a sense of community within the community.
Activities like these draw people out of their houses and make them be a part of a shared festive environment. Be it climbing ladders to reach the right branches of the trees and placing Christmas-themed ornaments there or putting up the Christmas string lights, it always demands collective effector and the absence of the which the whole thing can come crashing down. As people from different ages and backgrounds come together to make this community event a grand success, chances are that they will all share stories and laughter with one another and this will eventually help form a deeper sense of connection.
Overcoming the Winter Blues
Wintery months can be particularly grueling especially for those who ate battling with depression already. Cold weather and shorter day can make you feel blue out of nowhere.
Seasonal Affective Disorder, also called SAD or winter depression, is a syndrome described by Norman Rosenthal and his colleagues in 1984.
The easiest way to counteract this is to get yourself busy with something interesting and invigorating like setting up Christmas lights. Known for being visually stimulating, these bright, colorful Christmas lights can easily help you deal with the gloominess of winter, uplift your mood, and eventually make you feel happy.
Installing Christmas lights has its own therapeutic benefits as well. Christmas lights are not just a source of visual pleasure but they can also help you achieve a state of mindfulness. Getting involved in this exciting process of decorating your house of with different forms and types of Christmas lights can help you take your mind off stress and can also make you feel relaxed at the end. Just like painting and knitting, the repetitive and rhythmic blinking of Christmas lights can help in bringing the level of stress down.
Conclusion
Christmas lights are more than just another decorative item; they are symbols of hope and happiness. The impact of Christmas lights on mental wellbeing can’t be overstated enough. They offer a sense of comfort which is hard to come by these days.
