Holiday Teamwork
Holidays are a great time for friends and family as well as rest and relaxation. However, holidays bring their own stress which can contribute to challenges within relationships during the holiday season. Below are some tips for working as a team with your partner during the holiday season to create the most stress free experience possible.
Set expectations about the holiday as clearly as possible. If able, schedule some time together to sit down uninterrupted to line out time preferences, financial obligations, and division of holiday responsibilities to ensure both parties are in agreement on the overall vision for the holiday season.
Respect extended family boundaries. Seek compromise as much as possible on time spent with extended family and needs around extended family get togethers.
Be aware of potential sources of stress for your partner and be willing to create an environment of support when needed.
Ensure cooking, cleaning, gift buying, decorating and any other laborial holiday preparations are divided out as equally as possible. Be willing to create flexibility around these responsibilities as needed.
Create quality one on one time with your partner during the holiday season to be able to decompress as well as to reconnect prior to re-engaging in the normal daily routine once the new year begins.
Be willing to check in with your partner from time to time to ensure mutual goals are being met and no changes need to be made to prior plans.
Above are just a few tips designed to keep your relationship strong and healthy through the holiday season. Open communication and teamwork are paramount to high functioning relationships and these tenets are especially important during times of high stress such as during the holidays. Have a safe and happy holiday season!
