Deck the Halls. Jingle Bells. White Christmas.
For so many people, the sounds of the season include their favorite holiday hits, songs that have become intertwined with nostalgic memories of favorite Christmases past to become an indelible part of their holiday traditions.
And yet, for others, the countdown is on for when supermarkets and department stores and radio stations flip back to their usual mundane musical fare. And a study may have discovered why.
Rather than sparking pleasant hits of nostalgic dopamine, for some Christmas music is a reminder of how rapidly-approaching the holiday is… and how much is still left to be done.
A Consumer Reports poll showed that 25% of Americans say the music of the season is one of its most stress-inducing aspects.
“You simply are spending all your energy trying not to hear what you’re hearing,” clinical psychologist Linda Blair told the UK’s Sky News.
But holiday music doesn’t have to stay on your personal naughty list. Researchers suggest switching up that well-worn tried-and-true playlist with new versions of old favorites or even new tunes altogether – anything to help your brain create new connections.
And if that fails, maybe switch to something less stressful like serial killer podcasts for the next two weeks.