3 Ways to Stress Proof Your Relationship During the Holidays

December 17, 2019

You have holidays on the way and are stressed out about the planning, which takes all the fun away to begin with. You need to organize your schedule, decide who you would meet, what meals you should cook, how much money you should save for shopping, gifts and so on. During this time, relationships take a toll as couples feel overwhelmed and may become distant from each other. Relationship difficulties arise when there is stress or both partners feel intimidated due to certain events. However, there are ways to de-stress and enjoy your vacation.

Establish a plan that both partners could agree to

Due to added stress, your partner may feel secluded or unappreciated due to all the holiday-related activities, such as shopping. Your partner may feel pressurized into doing things your way.

Treat holidays as a time to get close to your partner. Make a list of all priorities and who is in charge of what task. Discuss with your partner how holiday issues were resolved in the past and how your partner would like them to be resolved this year.

Ask each other open-ended questions and the challenges of accomplishing a task. Listen to your partner’s preferences. After building an understanding, discuss how you would both like to proceed and where compromise is required.

Work on a solution that fulfills both partners’ needs. It’s not about who gets tasks done first as that creates resentment, instead try to balance responsibilities. Change plans if your partner feels stressed.

Engage in conversations with your partner to reduce stress. Discuss your thoughts and feelings. Talk about issues. Really listen to your partner about their feelings and show empathy. Show gratitude and appreciation for your partner. Offer compliments. Appreciate your partner’s contributions, even if it’s as small as taking out the trash. Show gratitude and everyone around you would feel satisfied, comfortable and appreciated. Schedule a separate time to spend with your partner.

If you are looking for help with coping with stress during the holidays, contact one of our Burbank therapists.