Some songs you can’t get out of the head and some seem to be play every 5 minutes, but is Christmas music causing you stress?
It seems immediately after Halloween, holiday music premiers in every store, lobby and across music platforms. Some people grumble and complain it starts too early, other hum along and have a smile. But is Christmas music bad for your mental health? While nearly half of U.S. adults (49%) would describe their stress levels during the traditional holiday season between November and January as “moderate,” around two in five (41%) said their stress increases during this time compared with other points in the year.
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Michael Bublé and Mariah Carey likely have no intention of causing you harm, but repetitive holiday music can actually have a psychological effect on your body. For many, there is a time when holiday songs inspire happiness and spark nostalgia, but there is a point with some when it just becomes too much.
With the onslaught, the brain becomes oversaturated, triggering a negative response. If you’re already worried about money, work, or seeing family during the holidays, the constant inundation of cheerful tuns may reinforce stress. Multiple studies have shown people feel like they have less time, more responsibilities, and higher expectations during the season, all contributing to holiday stress.
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Clinical psychologist Linda Blair shared Christmas music can be mentally draining. People working in the shops [have to tune out] Christmas music, because if they don’t, it really does stop you from being able to focus on anything else. You’re simply spending all of your energy trying not to hear what you’re hearing.
So, how do you win the war on Christmas music? Try to vary your playlist, because sticking to only holiday tunes produces mental fatigue, making our brains foggy and unable to think. .
