3 Tips For Protecting Your Marriage During The Holidays!

Marriage Tips For Building A Stronger Marriage // Huntsville Wedding Photographers

Just saying the word “Holidays” brings about so many warm fuzzy feelings. The family gathered around a Thanksgiving-feast laden table and Christmas shopping for a perfect gift. Jamming to your favorite Christmas tunes and parties galore. Decorations, delectable treats, the tiny hope of a few flakes of Christmas snow….

But along with all the fun connotations that come with the “Holiday” cheer, there usually comes another little facet.

That thing called stress. Stress over deadlines, budget, a crazy busy schedule, etc, etc. And with stress comes short tempers, less quality time together, and a host of other marriage-damaging problems.

Today we’re sharing 3 quick tips for protecting your marriage against the extra stress of the holiday craze!

1. Talk about your budget ahead of time.

Money is one of the number one causes of marital issues, and Christmas shopping definitely involves money. And it adds up fast: gifts for the 48 people on your list, treats, and charities. Party food, travel expenses, and “just because it’s Christmas” splurges. Etc, etc, etc.

Having different expectations of an appropriate budget is the recipe for tension – so stop it before it starts!

 

2. Agree on where you’re going to spend time and set boundaries ahead of time to protect yourselves.

Trying to meet everyone’s expectations is difficult. Whether you get along splendidly with all your in-laws and extended family, there are a lot of time demands around the holidays. Do both sets of parents expect you to be at the family Christmas party on December 25th?

Are there family tensions that make it difficult for your or your spouse to be around the other one’s family? You’ll need to support each other through issues and set boundaries for when, where, and with whom you’re going to be spending your time.

 

3. Schedule quality time together during the busy season.

As business partners who are also married, we totally get the temptation of putting life before each other.

With a never-ending list of things to do around the holidays, quality time with each other gets pushed to the side. And with the dismissal of intentional quality time often comes the dismissal of good communication. Even if it’s just 15 minutes of sitting down on the couch together and talking, make time to reconnect while everything else is spinning at breakneck speed.

We wish you many bright and wonderful Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Year’s memories, and a joyful time in your marriage to go along with it! :)

*hugs*

Amber

P.S. If you liked today’s Mocha, we think you’re going to like our Mocha about how to deal with a simmering argument. You can check it out here!