FESTIVE FINDING YOUR JOLLY

The holiday season can be overwhelming with all the social engagements and the stress involved in finding the perfect gifts for loved ones. Nevertheless, there are still aspects of the holiday season that can be beneficial for you and your mood. Here are some ways the holiday season can make you happy.

1. SHOPPING IMPROVES MOOD.

Shopping releases endorphins, much like exercise. Finding a great bargain when you are shopping increases the surge of these feel-good chemicals. According to Nancy Irwin, Psy.D., a Los Angeles psychotherapist, “Shopping can be extremely thrilling. It’s a peak experience to get a deal.”

A study of shoppers published in the Journal of Psychology and Marketing echoes her sentiments. The conclusion was this: “Retail therapy purchases were overwhelmingly beneficial, leading to mood boosts and no regrets or guilt.” So browse the circulars, load up on coupons, grab your wallet, and head to the nearest mall next time you need a pick-me-up.

2. GIVING TO OTHERS MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD.

When we help others, we may reap more benefits than the people we aid. Whether giving material goods, money, or time, when we put others first it inevitably leads to more happiness for us. “Not many things contribute to our happiness more than generosity,” says Tal Ben-Shahar, Ph.D., the author of Happier and a former Harvard lecturer. Stephen Post, Ph.D., a research professor of bioethics at Case Western Reserve University and co-author of Why Good Things Happen to Good People, explains, “As Darwin noted, group selection played a strong role in human evolution. If something like helping benefits the group, it will be associated with pleasure and happiness.” Therefore, if you want to be happy this holiday season, forget about yourself and endeavor to make somebody else’s day.

3. FORGIVENESS ABOUNDS DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

Whether the cause is the upbeat Christmas music or the spiked eggnog, people are more forgiving during the holiday season. When we extend forgiveness to someone who has hurt us, we heal not only the relationship but also ourselves. A study published in 2006 in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology demonstrated the effects of forgiveness. Researchers took a group of emotionally abused women and split them into two groups: one group participated in forgiveness therapy and the other group participated in an alternative treatment based on anger validation. Participants in the forgiveness group “experienced significantly greater improvement in depression, trait anxiety, posttraumatic stress symptoms, self-esteem, forgiveness, environmental mastery, and finding meaning in suffering.” These gains were maintained at follow up. This holiday season, you might remember those who have hurt you most deeply and consider letting go of that hurt — not only for their sake but also for your own.

4. PARTICIPATING IN HOLIDAY TRADITIONS BOOSTS FEELINGS OF SATISFACTION.

Researchers Tim Kasser and Kennon M. Sheldon endeavored to determine what makes for the happiest holidays in their study, “What Makes for a Merry Christmas?” published in the Journal of Happiness Studies. They asked 117 people, aged 18 to 80, to answer questions regarding satisfaction, stress, and emotional state during the Christmas season. They also asked the participants questions about their experiences, use of money, and consumption behaviors. According to the study abstract, “More happiness was reported when family and religious experiences were especially salient, and lower well-being occurred when spending money and receiving gifts predominated.” Thus while shopping may give your mood a quick boost, remember that for more lasting happiness, the emphasis should be on people and experiences over material goods.

5. CHRISTMAS MUSIC CAN LIFT YOUR SPIRITS. Music can have a significant impact on our feelings. Music provides stimulation, distracts from unpleasant thoughts, and triggers memories of times past.

Daniel Levitin, professor of psychology and neuroscience at McGill University in Montreal, studied how the brain responds to music. He found the amygdala, the fear center of the brain, is activated when we hear music we don’t like. However, when we hear music we do like, the brain releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter that influences the brain’s reward center, making us feel happy. So play your favorite tunes, but be sure to hit the fast forward button if you hear one you do not like.

The holidays are a busy time of the year, but that does not mean they have to be unpleasant. By making smart choices, we can increase our happiness and minimize sadness. Call a long-lost friend, shop for a family member, or host a party for some of your favorite people. Remember, when you give — whether your gift is forgiveness, free baby-sitting, or a sweater — the one who is actually receiving is you!