There’s nothing that puts me in a better mood than decorating for the holidays. Compared to other seasons, adorning my living space for the winter holidays particularly puts a smile on my face. Every year, right after Halloween, I find myself tearing down my spooky ghosts and replacing them with decorations that bring wonderful winter cheer. 

I’m excited to start seeing more and more people put up decorations for the holidays because the winter season brings so much joy and positivity, and decorating early helps prolong that mood. Walking through downtown Grand Rapids and seeing lights on the trees has been a magical reminder there are still things to look forward to.

Some friends and family criticize my choice to skip right to Christmas, but I just can’t help my excitement. For some, decorating early is a surprisingly serious topic, but my reasoning is simple: it makes me happy. My friends often suggest I decorate for Thanksgiving instead, but I don’t find nearly as much joy in casual, simple decor. Thanksgiving offers far fewer decorating options than Christmas or Halloween, and whatever I put up would only stay up for a short period. While I do enjoy spending time with my family over a good meal, Thanksgiving has troubling origins that hinder my desire to decorate for the holiday.

Decorating for the winter season, though, brings real benefits. According to Psychology Today, the longer you have your holiday decorations up, the longer you get to enjoy the emotional benefits. Emotions similar to nostalgia are stirred up for me when I decorate for Christmas. For example, when my roommate brought a Christmas tree home and set it up in our living room, it was a pleasant surprise that immediately lifted my spirits. It reminded me of the tree at my mom’s house, and put me in a better mood overall. 

Another benefit of decorating early is how people react when they see your space. It’s always nice when someone comes in and feels at home because of the decorations and care put into making the space cozy. An acquaintance came by my apartment this week to do homework together, and the decorated living room served as a great conversation starter. It also made me happy that someone I was just getting to know was able to feel comfortable in my place. We talked about Christmas for a bit, and I could tell it definitely put them in the mood to decorate their dorm as well. 

I’m sure others can relate to feeling a deep sense of nostalgia when decorating for the holiday season. If you decorate early, you’ll be able to enjoy all those warm, fuzzy feelings for much longer than if you decide to wait. Decorating my dorm or any living space these past few years in college has also reminded me that the holidays are around the corner, which means a break from classes is near. I know students might need an extra push to get through the last few weeks of the semester, so if you need an extra push, let holiday decorations serve as motivation. Winter break will come.