Keeping Your Relationship Afloat During the Holidays

The holiday season is on its way, and while for many families this means a time for celebration, others in Bountiful, Utah and across the nation find this time of year particularly stressful. The shopping and traveling that go along with Thanksgiving and Christmas in particular can be enough to carry over into relationship problems that send some to marriage counseling. But the holidays shouldn’t be that way. Here are some ways to avoid stress and keep your relationship afloat during the holidays.

The seemingly endless errands that come along with the holidays are typically one of the biggest contributors to the season’s stress. Prepping Thanksgiving dinner, buying presents, preparing the house for visitors from Bountiful and other tasks can be quite overwhelming—especially if one spouse isn’t doing his or her fair share of the work. 

As a couple, plan well in advance how you will handle the different tasks. Get an early start on shopping and other responsibilities when possible. And be sure that both you and your spouse are both contributing to what needs to be done. This way, no one becomes overwhelmed with holiday duties and becomes resentful to the other person, creating a need for marriage therapy.

Getting together with extended family can also be a stressful and emotionally difficult experience for some—especially when relationships with in-laws aren’t the greatest. This can be especially problematic when one imagines that his or her holiday experience should look like a Norman Rockwell painting and is anything but. 

If relationships with in-laws are difficult, try to take things as easy as you can. It is almost unavoidable that some conflict will arise during the holidays. But by being forgiving, focusing on the positive, and resolving conflicts through collaboration, these issues can become minor problems that don’t require eventual marriage therapy.

Another option is to consider changing holiday plans or reducing the amount of time spent visiting your relatives in Bountiful or elsewhere. Keep in mind, however, that in-laws are your spouse’s family. And if you don't want to end up in marriage therapy, be sure to exercise patience and avoid being overly negative in regards to your in-laws. Discuss possible changes to holiday plans with your spouse.

Finally, take care of yourself and focus on the positive aspects of the holiday season. Make sure you are getting enough sleep, eating right and exercising to keep your body in shape. Take part in holiday activities in Bountiful and elsewhere that you find enjoyable (and not stressful)—but still be willing to take time to rest and relax.