EXCERPT:
Psychologist in Los Angeles
“It’s okay if there are some days when getting out of bed in the morning feels like an enormous task. And it’s okay if you take a mental health day to cope. But if those days are becoming more frequent, decorating your apartment or home for the holidays could provide a dose of emotional energy, according to psychologist Dr. Yvonne Thomas, Ph.D. Plus, vibrant colors can shift our spirits. As Dr. Thomas explains, blue can make us feel calm and safe, green can help us to feel relaxed, refreshed and revitalized, yellow can evoke happiness, hope and cheer, red can encourage passion and empowerment, and so on.
“When people are unable to be with their loved ones, decorating using traditional holiday colors could be emotionally beneficial. Be it red and green for Christmas, blue and white for Hanukkah, black, red, and green for Kwanzaa, and so on,” she shares. “It can be uplifting and comforting using those colors which generally represent the holidays to you as well as positively remind you of your previous holiday celebrations with family and friends.
If the thought alone of decorating brings you dread, though, take it slow, Dr. Thomas recommends. Rather than thinking of it as a colossal project, break it down into bite-sized pieces. “You could identify and divide what needs to be done into manageable chunks that you have the energy to do each day, and then feel good about accomplishing what you get done with each piece,” she recommends. ”
Yvonne Thomas Ph.D. is a psychologist in Los Angeles. To read the full article, visit “Why It’s More Important Than Ever To Decorate For Holidays And Seasons” on edit.sundayriley.com