5 Tips to Nurture Your Relationship During the Holiday Season
"And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make." ~ John Lennon and Paul McCartney
"It's the most wonderful time of the year"...and for many couples it is the most stressful time of the year. Balancing the demands of work, kids, relationships and finances is difficult enough. Folding in the stress of the holidays is enough to throw even the happiest of couples into a tizzy.During difficult times like the holidays the relationship can be yet another stressor or it can be the respite from the pressure and strain. Now is the time to anticipate what's ahead and make a plan to minimize the hassle and maximize the joy.Here are five tips to do just that during the holiday season:
- Make plans together. The earlier you start planning the less pressure you will have. Create to-do lists for gifts, tasks and events.
- Share the load. Oftentimes the list of tasks falls more heavily on one partner who builds up resentment. Divvy up the responsibilities.
- Consciously communicate. Check in with each other every day to talk about how plans are going. Listen and re-negotiate tasks if needed.
- Plan "holi-dates." Build in time, even if it is short amounts of time, to connect with each other and have some fun.
- Express your love. When times are stressful it is even more important to support your partner and love them the way they need to receive love. That could mean compliments, appreciation, affection and/or sex.
We wish you a happy and healthy holiday season!We would love to know your thoughts about how to cope with holiday stress on our Facebook page.Here's to your relationship,Lori and Bob HollanderP.S. You may also want to check out our audio program, In-Laws, Outlaws & Others: Building Your Holiday Survival Kit.
Lori Hollander, LCSW-C, BCD, and Bob Hollander, LCSW-C, JD, are licensed counselors and co-founders of Relationships Work, an innovative therapy practice and online resource center that gives couples 360 degrees of support for extraordinary partnerships. Sign up for Radical Relationships, a monthly eZine from Relationships Work, and receive Why Take the Journey to Extraordinary? absolutely free.