We knew it.

Every bloody year Christmas seems to pass in the blink of an eye! You may want to think twice about taking the Christmas lights down just yet. Apparently, leaving your Christmas lights up is actually good for your mental health. Who knew? According to Chicago environmental and design psychologist Dr. Sally Augustin, the lights are good for your brain. She explained:  "We like to think we're so different from animals, but we are actually very responsive to our senses. "Developing on the savanna, where our current sensory systems developed, when we would see warm light, it was often a campfire at the end of the day, signaling cooking and positive experiences." She continued, saying: "When we experience warmer coloured lights, candlelight, or light from warmer bulbs, it puts us in a more positive mood, which is great for getting along with others." So not only will you feel better, but your relationships may also improve. What makes this all interesting is that it stems from the Scandinavian concept of Hygge. "Make sure there are lots of soft textures and cuddly warm blankets." "We have positive associations with soft warm, cuddly, and flannel textures. These are all good things in our mind that boost our mood, and when we are in a better mood, we get along better." Yep, we'll be doing exactly that for the whole month. This article originally appeared on Her.ie. Header image via Shutterstock READ ON: Reports show Irish tourism won't return to pre-pandemic levels until 2026