(WTXL) — If you're one of those people who starts gearing up for the holidays right after Halloween, one experts says you may be happier than your peers who don't.
"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, psychoanalyst Steve 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!"
While childhood nostalgia may be one reason to decorate early, McKeown says decorations can communicate "accessibility to neighbors."
The Journal of Environmental Psychology found that decorations show your neighbors you're accessible. Their study found people with holiday decor were perceived to be more "friendly and cohesive."
