What the timing of when you put decorations up says about personality

Have YOU already decked the halls? Psychologist reveals when you put the Christmas decorations says a LOT about your personality

Do you put your Christmas decorations up in November or early December?
Your timing can say a lot about your personality, according to one psychologist
America author Dr Carmen Harra told FEMAIL what the timings can reveal
Read more: John Lewis shares its pick of the five Christmas decorating styles

‘Tis the season to deck the halls – but there’s long been debate on when exactly is the best time to put your Christmas decorations up.

Whether you start your festive decorating in November, early December, as soon as summer ends or just weeks before the big day, the timing can say a lot about your personality, according to one psychologist.

Dr Carmen Harra, American author of Committed: Finding Love and Loyalty Through the Seven Archetypes, told FEMAIL how those who put their decorations up before November might struggle to enjoy ‘living in the moment’.

People looking to have their Christmas tree in pride of place in early December, meanwhile, are ‘more realistic in nature’, the expert said.

However, those who leave it just days or weeks before December 25th to sort out their festive decorations are likely to be ‘traditional but pessimistic’.

Here, we take a look at what the timing and style of your holiday adornment says about you…

IF YOU PUT UP YOUR DECORATIONS BEFORE NOVEMBER

‘Tis the season to deck the halls – but there’s long been debate on when exactly is the best time to put your Christmas decorations up. Pictured, a social media user shares a photo of their Christmas decorations

Dr Carmen said: ‘If you’re one of the few people who has had their lights in place since October, then you like to be the first to do things.

Choosing to shop for decorations ‘in person is more meaningful than ordering online’, says expert

‘Timing says a lot about a person, but there are other factors to consider,’ Dr Carmen insisted.

‘Choosing to shop for decorations in person is more meaningful than ordering ornaments online; even if you spend hours scouring through different pages for the right wreath, it doesn’t compare to making the effort of visiting stores and feeling texture, checking size, waiting in line, and so on.

‘In general, you are a more involved individual if you hand-pick your decorations in person.’

‘You enjoy planning and executing well ahead of schedule. You also correctly anticipate the holiday rush and wish to avoid it.

‘These sorts of skills benefit you in the real world because you are well-organised, prepared, and one step ahead of everyone else.

‘Take care, however, not to confuse these traits with wanting to “get things out of the way;” there is a time and place for everything, and wanting to get things done ahead of their proper time subtracts from the joy of living in the moment and feeling anticipation for each season as it approaches.’

IF YOU PUT UP YOUR DECORATIONS IN NOVEMBER OR EARLY DECEMBER

The expert said: ‘If you decided to deck the halls in November or early December, you’re still ahead of the game: you like to get things done before or on schedule.

‘More so, decorating in November shows that you genuinely look forward to the holidays because you have plenty of time to add to or change your decorations before the big day.

‘There is a sense of optimism associated with those who decorate a month early: they dream about their plans coming to fruition and swell with emotion at the thought of stepping back and admiring their hard work, and this holds true on a broader spectrum than Christmas.

‘On the other hand, those who choose to enrich their dwelling in early December enjoy doing things the correct and proper way and are more realistic in nature.’

People looking to have their Christmas tree in pride of place in early December, meanwhile, are ‘more realistic in nature’, the expert said. Pictured, a British Instagram user shares a photo online of their Christmas decorations

However, those who leave it just days or weeks before December 25th to sort out their festive decorations are likely to be ‘traditional but pessimistic’. Pictured, a person posts a photo online of their Christmas decorations

IF YOU PUT UP YOUR DECORATIONS DURING THE LAST WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS

‘This may signal an issue with procrastination or tardiness; you tend to put off things until the last moment,’ said the psychologist.

How long you decide to leave up your decorations says a lot about your personality, reveals psychologist

Dr Carmen said: ‘Taking your tree down immediately can signify that you’re efficient and quick to get things done, but it can also indicate that you feel inwardly relieved that Christmas is over.

‘By contrast, leaving your tree up for months after Christmas can portray you as a person who procrastinates or one who is disassociated with the notion of time and doesn’t fully engage in the present.

‘As a rule of thumb, decorating for the holidays in time conveys a more optimistic, open attitude and a greater appreciation of and reverence for the passing seasons of life.’

‘Those who wait until the week (or day!) before Christmas to decorate might also wait until right before the due date to finish a project, make a reservation, buy a birthday gift, etc.

‘This personality type is likely to be less optimistic than those who put up their decorations in time.

‘They don’t particularly look forward to the festive season, performing the task of decorating because they feel more obliged than inspired.

‘They prefer to see Christmas come and go, and it may be because the season doesn’t hold the same tender meaning it used to when they were younger or because they don’t see much sense to decorating under unhappy circumstances. Still, they make the effort to keep up tradition.’

IF YOU PUT UP NO DECORATIONS AT ALL

‘Making the decision not to decorate at all implies that you don’t regard the season as worth the effort,’ said Dr Carmen.

‘This action is associated with more pronounced pessimism than decorating during the final days before Christmas.

‘This personality type would like to avoid the holidays altogether, possibly because they can’t spend those special days with their loved ones or a traumatic event occurred in the past around this time of the year.

‘Understandably, they feel little to no enthusiasm in partaking in holiday festivities and prefer simply to ignore them until they pass.

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