How many times have you looked at pumpkins, gourds, and Halloween lights and felt instantly happier? That has a scientific explanation. You can find joy in little moments as well as big ones. Dr. Elaina DellaCava, a psychiatrist at Weill Cornell Medicine and New York-Presbyterian Hospital, says we should incorporate things we like into our lives throughout the year. Decorating for fall is a simple pleasure for many people. You may benefit from decorating for the season, experts tell HuffPost.
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Fall Colors Can Spark Joy.
You may feel happier when you see those pumpkins on your table. Colors can evoke dopamine, the happiness hormone, according to DellaCava. In a 2020 study, orange was associated with joy and overall positive feelings more than other fall decorations like pumpkins and autumn leaves. A similar study found yellow, another popular fall decor color, to be associated with happiness.
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Decorating For Fall Allows Us To
Benchmark Our Time.
Fall marks the end of summer vacations and the beginning of the back-to-school season. The change is less noticeable to adults. According to Kim Gorgens, a clinical professor in the Graduate School of Professional Psychology at the University of Denver, we lose benchmarks as we age, which explains why it feels like time flies by so quickly.
Getting to drive, vote, or drink alcohol is something we look forward to as children. Then we lose these milestones,” Gorgens said. Here’s where seasonal decor comes in. A home that reflects the season goes beyond just weather changes. “Fall is a benchmark of time,” Gorgens said.