The holidays conjure up traditions for many of us and make us inclined to relive them each season. Whether it’s the familiar movie lineup, a carefully curated music playlist, or taking in a holiday performance, indulging in traditions can actually be good for your mental health.

Keeping Traditions Alive

1. Name the rituals that matter most, big or small, and schedule them first.
2. Keep the “why” front and center: connection, gratitude, remembrance, or service.
3. Protect simple anchors, like shared breakfasts, evening walks to view holiday lights, or the holiday photo shoot, when plans get complicated.

These predictable touchpoints are where the benefits live.

What the Research Tells Us

Decades of research on family routines, traditions, and rituals shows they provide predictability, strengthen bonds, and support well-being across development. Nostalgia is a warm, social emotion that reliably boosts a positive mood, while bringing meaning in life and feelings of connectedness. So while the holidays can also increase stress, repeating meaningful activities can improve our emotional health.

Why Traditions Help

Psychologists find that rituals – from lighting candles to passing a favorite recipe around the table – can reduce anxiety and steady performance under pressure. Rituals give a sense of control and structure, which help regulate emotions during uncertain or demanding moments. Neuroscience work even shows rituals may dampen the brain’s stress response to mistakes, helping us feel and function better.

No Traditions? Take Comfort

Not everyone has long-standing holiday rituals, or maybe the holidays conjure up more bad memories than good. It’s not too late to tip those scales; you can still tap the same psychology by reinventing discarded traditions or creating your own.

You can also lean into “comfort media” – the shows, movies, music, or books you already love. Studies show that returning to familiar fictional worlds (yes, rewatching your favorite series) can restore depleted self-control and energy, likely because the predictability and parasocial bonds – those one-sided “crushes” we often have on our favorite celebrities – reduce mental effort and replenish motivation.

These nostalgic media cultivate and increase positive emotions, social connectedness, and meaning, which all buffer stress. Consider a playlist or film that takes you back to a time you felt supported and calm. And if music is your comfort medium, evidence suggests that self-selected listening may aid stress recovery – so pick your favorite tunes and let them work their magic.

The Tinsel Takeaway

Whether you’re gathering for a beloved tradition or spending an evening with a favorite soundtrack, familiar, meaningful routines help lower anxiety, boost connection, and restore emotional resources. So indulge in those nostalgic or favorite movies and music without guilt, and let them anchor you this holiday season. Your mental health will thank you for it.