An article on selfgrowth.com, by Dr. Charles D. Schmitz and Elizabeth A. Schmitz, provides some valuable ideas on how to keep holiday stress between you and your mate to a minimum. Here are 7 tips to do just that:
1. Family Traditions – put energy into blending your family traditions with your spouse’s. By doing so, you feel the beauty of give and take and come out feeling like team.
2. Less Can Be More – make your giving include simple gestures and gifts of love. Focusing on just the big ticket items can sometimes distract us from the little things in life that mean the most.
3. Set Priorities – talk to one another about what you want to put your money and energy toward during the holiday season. Actually making a priority list helps you stick to living your values.
4. Keep Your Eye on the Ball – the ball in this case is your partner! As we ramp up for the holidays, distractions beckon our name. Be careful that your mate doesn’t become a blur in the midst of your to-do list. Reach out with a touch, a kiss, and a hug. Let him or her know he or she matters most during this time of year.
5. When, not if, problems arise – when you hit a bump on the road to holiday merriment, nip it in the bud. Talk about it right away. Otherwise the issue slides under the rug and turns into a growing fungus that puts a dent in your fun.
6. Watch Your Delivery – along with keeping an eye out for UPS packages, pay attention to the delivery of what comes out of your mouth. Your tone toward your mate can make or break the season.
7. Perfection is Overrated – no one has a “perfect holiday!” Roll with the pitfalls that occur. Ask yourself when something goes “wrong,” “How important is it really?” In other words let go of perfection and you’ll make room for making lots of funny and loving memories.
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