The Mental Health Side of Halloween: Why Dressing Up & Decorating Feels So Good

Let’s be real: daily routines can feel heavy. School, work, social expectations, and the endless ping of notifications leave little room for play. Stress, anxiety, and burnout are common, especially for young adults balancing multiple responsibilities.

This lack of play isn’t just about missing fun — it impacts mental health. Without creative outlets, stress builds, and self-expression shrinks. The result? Feeling stuck, uninspired, and invisible.

Enter costumes. For one magical night (or even a whole month), Halloween lets you step into a different version of yourself.

Psychology research supports this: dressing up can reduce inhibitions, spark creativity, and boost confidence. When you wear a costume, you’re not just pretending — you’re giving yourself permission to be bold, playful, and free.

• FOHA (fans of the new boy group AHOF) making group costumes inspired by their idols.

• Students creating TikTok skits in pastel witch hats and cozy vampire capes.

• Friends bonding over funny, inside-joke costumes that make them feel seen.

Dorm rooms, apartments, and even bedrooms can often feel impersonal — just four walls and a to-do list. Without personalization, spaces drain energy instead of giving it back.

That lack of cozy connection to your environment adds to stress. It’s harder to focus, harder to rest, and harder to feel at home in your own space.

Decorating for Halloween flips the script. It’s not just décor — it’s an act of self-care. Hanging pastel pumpkin garlands, placing ghost-shaped candles on your desk, or sticking kawaii bat decals on your mirror transforms a space into something that reflects you.

Studies show that our physical environments impact our emotions, creativity, and even mental health. For Gen Z, who often live in smaller or shared spaces, decorating becomes a low-cost way to claim ownership and spark joy.

• A student creates a pumpkin-scented desk corner with fairy lights = instant study motivation.

• A family decorates together = ritual bonding that makes kids (and adults) feel connected.

• FOHA fans swap Halloween-themed fan art online = shared creativity that builds community.

Costumes and décor allow you to show the world pieces of your identity. For Gen Z, self-expression isn’t optional — it’s survival. Halloween offers one more avenue to express who you are (or who you want to try being).

Whether it’s group costumes, fandom-inspired outfits, or family decorating nights, Halloween creates shared rituals. This builds belonging and reduces loneliness — one of the biggest mental health challenges today.

Crafting décor, testing makeup looks, or baking pumpkin muffins keeps you in the present moment. That “play state” lowers anxiety and builds resilience. For a few hours, the weight of the world lifts.

Dressing up as a character or decorating with cozy pastels creates an escape from daily stress — not avoidance, but a healthy retreat. Play reminds us that life isn’t only about productivity; it’s also about delight.

• Aesthetic-driven: From pastel pumpkins to soft-spooky wallpapers, it’s about curating a vibe.

• Digital-sharing: TikTok hauls, Instagram reels, and Pinterest boards mean Halloween joy gets amplified through content.

• Identity-first: Costumes aren’t just random. They’re fandom-based, aesthetic-focused, and tied to personal identity.

• Wellness-aware: Instead of just chasing scares, many Gen Zers intentionally create cozy, comforting Halloween spaces.

• Because the world feels heavy, play becomes resistance.

• Because identity is central, costumes let us experiment with self-expression.

• Because community matters, decorating together builds belonging.

• Because mental health matters, cozy spaces help us recharge.