Starbucks has their holiday cups already out and many retail stores are starting to roll out 5 or 6 weeks of non-stop Christmas music. As festive as it may seem to those on the outside, new research shows being subjected to too much Christmas music can be bad for your mental health. While holiday tunes has been shown to put shoppers in the spending mood, the constant replay can be “mentally draining” for employees working in those stores.

 

Clinical psychologist Linda Blair says: ‘It might make us feel that we’re trapped – it’s a reminder that we have to buy presents, cater for people, and organize celebrations. People working in the shops at Christmas have to [tune out] Christmas music, because if they don’t, it really does stop you from being able to focus on anything else,’ she said.  ‘You’re simply spending all of your energy trying not to hear what you’re hearing.’


 

 

 

Additional research shows that the adverse affects aren’t immediate. The first few times your hear Christmas music can put you in the holiday spirit but once the same songs are heard constantly, they will trigger that negative response in the brain.

So basically:

First time in the season you hear Christmas music:

 

After listening to 18 versions of “Last Christmas” within 2 weeks:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are some stories from our KiSS RADiO listeners who have been on the retail front lines during the Christmas season:

 

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-Kevin and Sonia

KiSS RADiO MORNiNGS

www.facebook.com/KevinandSonia

Filed under: christmas, Holidays, Kevin and Sonia, Mental Health, music, retail