Hallmark Christmas Movies Are My Self-Care—Here’s How Sci...

What’s Happening

Not gonna lie, I asked a psychologist why (and how) they impact mood.

For many people, self-care means taking a warm bath, doing some deep breathing and meditation , or adding some extra steps to their nighttime skincare routine in the hopes of some zen time. My version is turning on Countdown to Christmas on the Hallmark Channel, and it works all year round to instantly relax me, calm my anxiety, lower my stress, and improve my mood. (it feels like chaos)

When I watch a movie like The Snow Must Go On or A Suite Holiday Romance , all my work deadlines, bills, and holiday blues seem to mellow out and fade away.

The Details

The fake snow, small towns, twinkly lights, smiling neighbors, corny Christmas tunes, so much hot cocoa, and -cutter plots warm my heart—and also bring down my heart rate. Is there science to back up the nearly medicinal-level of calm that washes over me mid-movie?

Meet the expert: Pamela Rutledge, Ph. , psychologist, director of the Media Psychology Research Center ; and professor emerita at Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara, CA “There’s a lot of research showing how positive media and storytelling are linked to reduced anxiety, improvement in mood, and increased happiness.

Why This Matters

Hallmark simply packages these effects reliably to elicit feel-good responses like soothing and a sense of security,” says psychologist Pamela Rutledge, Ph. , director of the Media Psychology Research Center and professor emerita at Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara, CA. “It’s a formula designed to provide feelings of comfort and a safe psychological space.

This is the kind of health news that affects everyday decisions.

Key Takeaways

” It’s not just Hallmark, flicks on Hulu ( Hot Chocolate Holiday is a good one), and other streamers elicit a similar reaction.
—so, what’s fr going on here?
I tapped Rutledge to find out.