According to an expert, if you put your Christmas decorations up earlier, you might be happier than the average person!

Everyone has their idea of what the best time of year is, but it's presumed that Christmas will sit on top of many people's lists.

Given that it is such an exciting time, it's easy to understand why so many people can't wait to cover their house from top to bottom in lavish decorations.

Shops capitalize on this and start displaying Christmas goods long before the day arrives - but if you've ever moaned about this, you might be shocked to know that those who begin celebrating earlier might be happier in life.

Psychologist Deborah Serani confirmed to Today that filling your house with Christmas cheer long before the big day can often lift spirits.

"It does create that neurological shift that can produce happiness," she said. "I think anything that takes us out of our normal habituation, the normal day in, day out ... signals our senses, and then our senses measure if it's pleasing or not. Christmas decorating will spike dopamine, a feel-good hormone."

But how does it all work?

According to Serani, bright lights and colors have a positive impact on our well-being, especially during a time of year when it's pretty dark.

On top of that, generally looking forward to something and having a house full of festive cheer isn't exactly going to dampen spirits.

"For a lot of us, Christmas is a magical time, it’s a time of innocence, it’s a time of joy," Serani went on.

She noted that for many people, Christmas will be a time of year filled with many positive memories from childhood and the wave of nostalgia can be powerful.

On the flip side, however, if Christmas was particularly traumatic in the past, then sticking up decorations early could also bring up bad memories and have a negative impact.

Psychologist and happiness expert Elizabeth Lombardo weighed in on the latter, saying that if Christmas brings bad feelings then it might be time to start a new tradition.

"Whether it's going away, seeing a movie as a family, volunteering. It creates a new association," she said.

Hopefully, the next time Christmas rolls around, you'll be able to attribute it to more positive experiences.

Christmas decorations also give people the impression that you're more sociable, according to research, and having a house full of family and friends usually brings a lot of good memories.

So before you start shaking your head at people who have Santa on their house before Halloween is over - just consider that they're probably loving their life!

Featured image credit: ArtBoyMB/Getty

A Christmas-mad mom has attempted to bring some festive cheer to her children and neighbors by putting up her Christmas decorations over three months before December 25.

Caroline Gabe's extensive display also features 3,000 outdoor lights adorning her home in Caewern, Wales.

The 46-year-old mom-of-three has been shielding with her kids since March, and said that putting up the Christmas decorations early has been a much-needed boost.

Check out Caroline's elaborate display below:

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In fact, Caroline has been planning this all year - buying all her light and installations over lockdown. Outside, 3,000 fairly lights, an eight-foot inflatable snowman, sparkling snow, Santa Clause, and a reindeer all greet her neighbors every day.

In addition, children Jack, 23, Harry, 12, and Theo, five, are also appreciating the an artificial tree with fake snow that has been placed in the family's living room.

However, it would seem not everybody is in the Christmas spirit, as former care worker Caroline has admitted that some people have driven past her home and shaken their heads in disapproval.

But Caroline isn't going to let these Scrooges get her down. In fact,  she says many of her neighbors have thanked her for being some Christmas cheer to the street.

Caroline - who was forced to give up her job as a care worker in order to shield - has been under strict lockdown since March due to the fact son Theo has severe asthma following a pneumonia battle last year.

She said: "I've had so many people talk to me about them. It has blown me away.

"It's just been something nice in a horrible and surreal year. I just thought it would brighten the community up.

"I've got two younger children and it has really put a smiles our faces.

"Every year I am always early with the Christmas decorations. But this is even early for me.

"Since March me and the children have been shielding - we haven't been as far as the park - and I've got to admit it has been a gloomy year.

"I thought 'bugger it' - I'm going to get the decorations up. The kids were smiling. People were coming up to the house and smiling. It has been lovely.

"Christmas is a fantastic time of year - even in September."

Caroline is also planning on adding to her display; having a festive T-Rex from America being delivered later this month.

In total, Caroline has estimated that she has spent just almost $1300 (£1000) on the decorations.

The doting mom spent eight hours putting up all the decorations on September 7.

She added: "The neighbours, they think I'm crackers.

"The majority of them love it. You get the odd car going past and you see them shaking their head, but I just laugh. It makes me want to put more up!

"It's ridiculous what we are all going through. It can get you down. I've been so anxious, but as soon as I put the decorations up, it just lifted my spirits.

"It's just a bit of normality; crazy normality mind, putting your decorations up in September."

We absolutely love a bit of Christmas cheer - and 2020 certainly needs it! Well done, Caroline!

Let's assume you're the kind of person who likes to get into the Christmas spirit well in advance of the festive season - you did click on this article, after all.

Now, let's also assume that you're slightly embarrassed by how overzealous you may appear by putting up your Christmas tree as early as, say, October.

You desperately want to bring out that huge, heavily-adorned tree to put up in your living room... But at the same time, you're tempted to hide it away - just in case the naysayers put you on blast for your love of all things Christmas.

Fortunately, that no longer has to be the case - provided you're as big a Halloween fan as you are a Christmas enthusiast.

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You can just decorate your tree with a range of spooky accessories and voila, it's no longer a Christmas tree, it's legitimately a 'Halloween tree'.

Don't worry, you won't be alone - putting up Halloween trees is an actual thing. In fact, people have been posting snaps of their very own Halloween trees, to their various social media pages.

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"Happy 8th day of Halloween!! I’ve been holding off on taking a picture of our living room but its heeeeere!" wrote a Halloween fan in their Instagram caption. "We finally felt like it was time. I had a rough start to the month & its taking me a while to really get into the spirit but its turning around. We have some fun things planned for the rest of the month [sic]."

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Have you ever wondered how to make a Halloween cheesecake with baileys? Well, here it is:

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"I am obsessed with this Halloween tree I think it is one of the most fabulous Halloween things I've ever seen," one Instagram user wrote in response to the above Halloween tree. "Is there anyway you could tell me where I can find this tree it looks like a candy corn yellow orange white I've been looking all over for one just like this."

Christmas might not be for well over two months, but that hasn't stopped people from getting into the holiday spirit already.

Yesterday, we learned that Target was selling a giant blow-up Buddy the Elf, and other recent festive news has included the announcement of a seven-foot rainbow Christmas tree, and, perhaps most of exciting of all, that the PlayStation Five will be available in time for the big day next year (yeah, yeah, it's a whole year, but gaming fans have been waiting a long time).

And now, the most festive among us have decided against Halloween decorations this October and opted to put up their Christmas trees instead. Naturally, in our social media-obsessed world, they've been proudly showing them off online.

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While this might seem a bit extra, even if you too have a penchant for decking the halls, it turns out these early decorators might be onto something as they're often happier than those who don't.

Psychoanalyst Steve McKeown explained to Unilad that putting up Christmas decorations is a happy experience, which many strongly associate with their childhood.

In short, it's a way of bringing back the magic we all experienced as kids into our adult lives.

But, as is the case with so many things in life, each to their own. If having your home flashing like the North Pole all year round makes you happy, you do you. We're sure that if nothing else, it will get you extra points with You Know Who.

1. Denial

It's mid-November. High street stores have started Christmas songs. The festive commercials have started playing. Every other person you talk to begins a conversation by saying, "So, have you got any plans for the holidays?" But you refuse to take part in all that. You tell yourself it's too early to pay it any attention and carry on going about your daily life without giving a second thought to anyone's festive excitement or Amazon wish list.

2. Anger

It's late November now. You've heard All I Want For Christmas Is You at least nine times. You can't even walk down the street without being bombarded by tinsel-laden trees and bauble-covered billboards. It's not even December yet! What are these people thinking? Is Autumn just not a thing anymore!?

3. Guilt

December has finally arrived, but you're still feeling a little grumpy about how disgustingly cheery everyone else is. However, this changes when you get a call from your mom. She says she's so excited to see you in a few weeks - and she's already got your gift sorted! You suddenly feel your stomach drop. You haven't even asked her what she wants yet. You cover up the guilt in your voice and say you're looking forward to seeing her too.

4. Fear

Ok, so you sort of have an idea of what you should get for your mom. Or do you? What if she doesn't like it? Or worse, what if all the shops have sold out of all the good stuff now? Oh man, what if she realizes you basically forgot about her?

5. Panic

SERIOUSLY, THOUGH, WHAT IF YOUR MOM IS DISAPPOINTED IN YOU ON CHRISTMAS DAY? That would be the worst. And you already blew half your last paycheck on stuff you didn't need because you totally forgot about the gift-giving bit of Christmas. You need to get your dad something, too. And your sister. And your secret Santa. How is there suddenly so much to do?

6. Depression

Once the panic subsides, you sort of resign yourself to the idea that Christmas might actually suck this year. It's cold outside. All I Want For Christmas Is You somehow sounds sort of sad after the twenty-ninth play. Everyone else has solid plans, and what do you have? A shopping list of half-thought-out presents and a sudden disdain for Mariah Carey.

7. Reflection

But wait, there's still time. There's online shopping. There's that mall on the other side of town that you always hate going to, but know will have the sorts of things you need. Your mom has invited you over for the day. Your co-workers' cheeriness is actually quite reassuring. And Mariah Carey isn't that bad.

8. Acceptance

The festive season is upon us whether you like it or not, so you have to do what you can to enjoy it. You dig old your old Christmas sweater. You ask your friends for advice on what to get your family. You have a little dance to WHAM!'s Last Christmas in your living room, then drink some mulled wine and chow down on a mince pie. You go see the street lights at night. You watch Home Alone. Then, after all that, you realize that Christmas isn't that bad after all, really.

9. Hope

As the last few days of the season draw in, you start to have a really good feeling about this year. You accept that it might not be perfect, and you know there's some stuff you could have done differently, but, ultimately, you're looking forward to it. You're excited. And so you should be.