Last week started with me scrolling Instagram, which, honestly, should have been my first mistake. I came across a post from someone complaining about how Halloween decorations have gotten too scary and gory. What happened to the cute pumpkins, friendly ghosts, hay bales, and fun fall decorations? Why does everything have to look like something out of a horror movie now?
Listen, I get it. Halloween decorations have definitely gotten more elaborate over the years. Some people’s front yards look like a crime scene from a Netflix documentary.
I politely commented that I decorate for my youngest daughter, who’s a teenager and loves scary movies. This year she wanted a Scream theme, so that’s what we did. Ghostface and all, it’s fun for her, and I love that she still wants to do these things with me. I also mentioned that come November 1st, it all comes down anyway.
And that’s exactly what happened. On Sunday, November 1st Ghostface was packed away, the Halloween decorations came down, and out came the Christmas bins. Yep November 1st. I know it is trending to start decorating on November 1st now and I also know some of you are probably rolling your eyes.
For years, I was a strict Saturday-after-Thanksgiving Christmas decorator. Then 2020 happened and I think we all remember 2020, and I don’t need to explain why I decided that year needed a little extra Christmas cheer. On November 1st, 2020 I started decorating. I put up the lights, brought out the garland, and decided that if the world was going to be completely upside down, at least my living room could look festive.
And you know what? I loved it. So I did it again in 2021, and 2022, and every year since. Now November 1st is officially the beginning of Christmas decorating season in my house.
I don’t necessarily finish decorating in one day. I actually enjoy taking my time with it. I’ll put on some Christmas music, bring out a few things, rearrange something approximately 47 times, and keep going over the next several days. The lights make me happy, the decorations make the house feel cozy, I love the whole atmosphere.
Before anyone tells me I’m rushing through Thanksgiving, I promise you can enjoy Thanksgiving while a Christmas tree is standing in your living room. I’ve tested this theory for six years now.
There’s even some psychology behind why holiday decorations make us feel good. Researchers have explored how nostalgia, familiar traditions, and positive memories contribute to emotional well-being. Holiday decorations can bring back those feelings, especially when they’re connected to happy memories from childhood.
I just makes me happy.
Which brings me back to Instagram. I’ve decided I’m taking the entire month of November off Instagram.
No gram November I’m calling it. I’m just tired of how judgmental it’s become. Everyone has an opinion about everything, and, we’re all supposed to hear about it. Your Halloween decorations are too scary, your Christmas decorations are too early, you’re celebrating the wrong holiday at the wrong time, you’re eating the wrong food, you’re exercising the wrong way, you’re parenting wrong.
It’s exhausting. So much of it feels intentionally contraversial too. People post these hot takes knowing they’ll get everyone worked up, arguing in the comments, and coming back to see what someone said next. Somewhere along the way, having an opinion about absolutely everything became a personality trait.
I recently heard the expression, “Don’t yuck someone else’s yum,” and I haven’t stopped thinking about it.
It’s such a simple concept. You don’t have to like what someone else likes, you don’t have to decorate for Christmas in November, you don’t have to put a twelve-foot skeleton in your front yard for Halloween, and you don’t have to understand why someone loves something that you don’t.
You can just keep scrolling.
I’m not suggesting we stop having opinions or conversations about things that actually matter. There are plenty of important issues worth discussing and disagreeing about. I’m talking about the harmless stuff, the things that bring people a little happiness.
Life is stressful enough without strangers on the internet telling us we’re enjoying the holidays incorrectly. So this November, I’m trading Instagram scrolling for Christmas decorating, twinkle lights, holiday movies, and whatever else sounds good.
If you don’t think Christmas decorations should go up until after Thanksgiving, that’s perfectly fine. I promise not to come over and decorate your house. Just don’t come over and take down mine.
Nikki Lanigan
Nikki Lanigan is a yoga, HIIT, and Barre instructor, she is also a Holistic Health Coach through Institute of Integrative Nutrition. Nikki is trained in Yoga Shred, Yoga Psychology, meditation, chakra balancing, and EFT/Tapping. She has done trainings with Sadie Nardini and Ashley Turner. She got her 200 hour yoga teacher training in 2017 at the Carrie Treister School Of Yoga. Nikki takes a holistic view of health, helping her students and clients reach a place of self-love not just through movement, but with mindset and lifestyle guidance as well. Nikki is also show prep writer for The McVay Media Show Prep and host of the podcast Fit, Fun, and Frazzled. Connect with Nikki on Instagram. www.instagram.com/nikkilanigan.yogaandwellness www.instagram.com/fitfunandfrazzledpodcast
