The holidays are in full swing and for some people it really is the most wonderful time of the year, but others feel it’s a stressful season. And making it worse? The inescapable Christmas music we hear pretty much everywhere from now until January.
There hasn’t been any intensive research on the subject yet, but several surveys reveal just how many people genuinely don’t like Christmas music:
- A survey from Consumer Reports finds that 23% of respondents admit they dread seasonal music around the holidays.
- According to another poll from Soundtrack Your Brand, 17% of U.S. shoppers dislike Christmas music.
- That same poll finds 25% of retail workers in the U.S. and the U.K. say Christmas music actually makes them feel “less festive” and 16% say the tunes “dampen their emotional well-being.”
- Christmas music can also become mentally draining when it’s played non-stop for weeks on end, according to a reportby Inc.
So what is it about these songs that are supposed to help spread holiday cheer that end up doing the opposite for some folks? Psychologist Dr. Elaine Rodino explains that music can have a significant impact on people, especially related to their memories and emotions. And if people don’t have good memories of the holidays, hearing Christmas music can stir those up and stress them out. She advises people who are feeling holiday stress try to make it easier on themselves:
- Let go of expectations for decorating, sending cards and buying presents
- Take control of what you can and do things that fit into your lifestyle
- Spend time trying to figure out why you’re feeling what you’re feeling
- Avoid listening to Christmas music when you can and use headphones to drown it out in stores
Source: Fox News