Can Your Relationship Survive Christmas?
The truth of the matter is that, in fact, your relationship might not survive the challenge of Christmas. This is an emotionally charged time, and sometimes those emotions boil over in a negative way. You need to prepare for this challenge both mentally and financially in order to get through it with your relationship intact.
Why is Christmastime a risk to your relationship?
The holiday season is time for celebrations and happiness. However, this period can also be rather stressful due to all the preparations and, quite often, monetary issues. Add to that that Christmas is the time for many to do some introspection and reassessment of one’s values. As a result of that, it is no wonder that many relationships end during the holidays. And many of those stories are downright ugly, as you can see from reports in Metro News.
Of course, your relationship doesn’t have to end in a tragedy. In fact, there is an article in Cosmopolitan that offers tips on how to break up during Christmas with minimal damage. However, if both of you are willing to work for it, you can weather the storm that is holiday stress and come out of it with a stronger and healthier relationship.
How to make sure your relationship survives the holiday season
1. Make your gifts personal and practical
Some might consider it petty, but the fact is that “bad” Christmas presents are a cause for much resentment and negativity. With the stress of the holidays in general, it quickly adds up and poisons your relationship. Therefore, finding presents that will be appreciated and loved is not merely a romantic gesture. It is an actual necessity for a healthy relationship.
However, you also shouldn’t forget that being practical and giving your partner something on their wish list is not going to be enough. What you need is to strengthen your emotional bonds, and this means finding personalized presents. Better yet, you should use something that will celebrate your love. Custom photo albums make good Christmas gifts exactly because that is what they do. By making an album with the images of the two of you together, you can remind your partner (and yourself) about all the most precious moments in your relationship. Simply looking at it when you are stressed and bitter for some reason should help you calm down and avoid saying or doing something that can’t be taken back afterward.
During the holiday season stress, this kind of personal reminder of your best moments can be the exact thing that will save your relationship from an angry blowup.
2. Develop a plan for interacting with your in-laws
One of the main stressors for a couple during the holiday season is visiting family. Whether you are staying with some of your relatives and in-laws or have them visiting your place, you have to be prepared for nasty arguments.
Sadly, it is true that many extended families don’t have the best of relationships. This leads to tension and arguments during get-togethers. If you have a situation like this, discuss it with your partner in advance. Actually, you should have a discussion about every guest and your personal opinions about them, even if your family is picture-perfect. Be open with each other about your personal feelings and concerns. Most importantly, prepare a plan of action for dealing with every possible situation.
3. Set a budget for your holiday plans
Financial issues are one of the biggest stressors during the holiday season. Therefore, you should aim to minimize them in advance. Discuss your plans a few months before Christmas and determine how much money you will need for them.
Start saving up and create a detailed budget for the holiday. Work on this together to prevent any disputes when the time for Christmas shopping arrives.
Article written by Jane Koval
This article was written by the guest author listed at the end of the article.