The Holiday Season and Sensory Overload

This year, I heard my first Christmas carol on the radio at the end of October, and promptly got carsick. While I know that many people enjoy when those jingles come on and stores are decked with holiday merchandise, I can’t stand it. It just that it seems to happen earlier and more obnoxiously every year. Just when the brutal weather and shorter days cause you to be more cuddly and cozy, the holidays come around to ensure that there’s constant irritation to your senses. Nothing is more of a turn-off than Christmas carols on repeat, blinking reindeer, and gross consumerism.

If you, too, suffer from sensory overload when the holidays are on steroids, here are some tips to shut it out, and save some space for more subtle, sensual cheer this holiday season:

• Choose to make the holidays about you and your loved one(s). Focus your seasonal cheer on spending quality time with lovers, family, and friends. Spend less time shopping and spending, and more time visiting and sharing.

• Turn off “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer,” and turn on some soothing sounds. We’ve already weighed in on our best songs to have sex to, but we’ll take anything over Christmas carols. Classic, soothing music will be just as crowd-pleasing, and much more calming and romantic for you.

• Instead of tacky yard ornaments, light everything with candles. If you want a more subtle way to light up your holidays, go old-school and use lots of candles (real or fake). They’re romantic and comforting, and the lighting they cast makes everyone look great. Just don’t set your tree on fire.