"For most of my adult life, I've fought taking down the holiday decorations. As someone with a strict "no tree until the turkey is stored" policy, I try to stretch the holiday feels for as long as humanly possible. Every year, my psychotherapy clients notice when my twinkling pink tree goes up behind me. And every year we have the conversation about how, just maybe, because it's pink, I can count it as a Valentine's Day tree and keep it up even longer."
"Clutter adds visual "noise" that can increase stress and make it harder for the brain to focus. Research links stressful home environments to cortisol patterns associated with chronic stress. Minimalism may boost well-being by creating mental space, autonomy, and emotional breathing room. Taking decorations down can be a nervous system reset-not a loss of joy or holiday spirit. For most of my adult life, I've fought taking down the holiday decorations."
Clutter creates visual noise that elevates stress and impairs concentration. Research connects stressful home environments with cortisol patterns linked to chronic stress. Minimalist environments reduce sensory overload, promote autonomy, and create emotional breathing room that supports wellbeing. Removing holiday decorations can function as a nervous-system reset and should not be framed as loss of joy or seasonal spirit. Some Christian traditions mark removal of decor as psychological and spiritual closure tied to Epiphany and the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Generational preferences show many younger adults prefer fewer trinkets, seeking clearer spaces to support focus and calm.
Read at Psychology Today
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]