For some people, the holidays bring about warm memories of meaningful traditions, familiar sounds and foods, and time spent with loved ones. Often referred to as nostalgia, these sentimental feelings can evoke both joy and longing around the holidays. And while nostalgia is sometimes bittersweet, it can also be used to boost your mood.
Nostalgia often refers to a longing for or sentimental feeling about a time from your past. In some cases, nostalgia entails remembering the past as better or more impactful than the present.
Over the years, how people view nostalgia has changed. In the early 1900s, nostalgia was considered a psychiatric or psychosomatic disorder (a form of mental distress that causes physical symptoms). Later, it was considered a form of depression. But today, mental health experts describe nostalgia as a positive emotion that emerges when someone reflects on their past.
Nostalgia can boost self-esteem, increase meaning, and build social connection. It can also improve well-being and may alleviate anxiety and depression.
Nostalgia can improve your mental health. It helps reinforce your sense of belonging and reduce loneliness. Scientists theorize this happens because happy memories trigger the release of habit-forming chemicals like dopamine. This, in turn, can reduce your stress and anxiety and build contentment.
One study found that when people are lonely, actively remembering happier times in their past can help them find more meaning in their current situation. Meanwhile, a survey of 2,000 adults found that nostalgia can also be a source of comfort and inspiration.
But remembering the past is not always a positive experience. Some people find that grief or bad holiday experiences from years ago can keep them from feeling nostalgic. Stress can also make the holidays feel less satisfactory. One survey found that 43% of people say stress keeps them from enjoying the season.
If you are looking to improve how you feel this holiday season, try using nostalgia as a tool. Here are some ways you can leverage nostalgia to boost your mood this holiday season.
- Remember the past, but live in the present. While it is important to remember the past, you also need to be in the present moment. Spending too much time remembering can lead to stress, anxiety, and depression. Instead, take memories from the past and incorporate them into the present.
- Practice gratitude. If you have recently lost someone, remembering can be hard. To get past these challenging emotions, use your nostalgia and aim for gratitude and optimism. Doing so may help alleviate feelings of grief and despair.
- Reach out to your loved ones. Look for ways to use your nostalgic thoughts to be more social. Invite friends or family to participate in activities you once did, cook special foods with others, and arrange time to spend together to incorporate those memories.
- Write down your nostalgic thoughts. One study found that when people wrote about their past, they felt more loved and supported. These feelings also helped reduce their sense of loneliness.
- Use nostalgia to become more authentic. One study found that when people were nostalgic, they saw the past version of themselves as more authentic. In the present, this helped them be true to who they are and not engage in people pleasing.
