At the age of five, I, like most other kids, watched the same movie repeatedly until my parents were strongly considering gouging their own eyes out with a baby spoon. In 2007, the object of my cinematic affection was “Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas.” From the time I woke up, to the time I fell asleep, all I wanted was to watch this one movie. By the end of October, I was beginning to show signs of addiction, which ultimately led to my parents staging a much-needed intervention.

There was a new rule in my house: Christmas music was outlawed until 12:01 a.m. on the day after Thanksgiving.

At first, I vehemently resisted change. The urge to hear the sweet, sweet sounds of holiday jingles mingled with Mickey Mouse’s fervent laugh still gnawed at the back of my brain, you know, like withdrawals…like how you would with an addiction. But as the years passed, I began to realize that the “no-noel” rule changed my life for the better. Today, I am reformed; I am clean. I now only begin listening to Christmas music the day after Thanksgiving.

Although many claim that blaring “Frosty the Snowman” on repeat intensifies their enjoyment of the holiday season, I believe that to be a fallacious argument on multiple accounts. First, listening to Christmas music early bends to the increasingly prevalent consumerization of Christmas, therefore undermining the significance of Thanksgiving as a holiday that deserves more respect and recognition.

“The Thanksgiving season is stepped on by Christmas; stores are putting out Christmas decor before they are putting out their Thanksgiving cornucopias and things of that nature,” communications junior Bruce White said, explaining his decision to refrain from listening to holiday music too early.

The Christmas season is special in its own way, as is the Thanksgiving season. There’s a clear distinction between jingle bells and cornucopias and that is why we need to draw the line. The month of November up until the Black Friday needs to be allocated to Thanksgiving celebrations, and the time from Black Friday to Christmas day should be reserved for Christmas.

Some also argue that Christmas music is simply a genre that can be enjoyed in any season. Communications junior Janelle Puckering asks why it shouldn’t be played all the time.

“Would a basic girl not want a pumpkin spice latte any time of the year? Why should I limit myself to just Christmastime, when it’s available to me all the time?” Puckering said.

But according to music psychology researcher Victoria Williamson, there is a “U shaped relationship” between the number of times we listen to a song and how we feel about that song. This means that listening to Christmas music frequently before the actual Christmas season can cause you to be less willing to listen when it’s the right time to be listening.

Additionally, clinical psychologist Linda Blair found that the onslaught of premature Christmas music for extended periods of time can take a toll on the mental health of listeners. Blair explains that the constant bombardment of carols can increase feelings of stress associated with holiday chores. She also found that retail workers were especially susceptible to this affliction, as stores tend to play Christmas music earlier each year.

“People working in the shops at Christmas have to [tune out] Christmas music,” Blair told Sky News. “Because if they don’t, it really does stop you from being able to focus on anything else.”

I want to make it clear that I’m no Grinch, but I simply cannot sit back and watch the holiday season I know and love go up in flames due to the unwelcome avalanche of Christmas music. Next year, I strongly urge hasty listeners — both devout and casual — to stand with me and sit tight until Black Friday. “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree” can wait, I promise.