Dr Pam Spurr

Top Relationship Tips For Preventing Christmas Stress

Top Relationship Tips For Preventing Christmas Stress

Christmas is such a stressful time that January sees more couples running to solicitors to talk about divorce than at any other time. You can protect your relationship and prevent seasonal stresses turning cracks in your relationship into gaping holes. My top tips include:

Your Special Evening

Select a cast-iron date in December to share a romantic evening. Ninety-nine per cent of couples say they don’t have special time together in December. “Disconnecting” emotionally for that long it's unhealthy.

Avoid Family Stresses

Early on agree how to tackle thorny issues like how much time you spend visiting each other’s families. Planning this before you’re fraught means you're less likely to snap each other over the demands of your respective families.

Divide And Conquer

Christmas chores are responsible for loads of arguments. From sending cards, buying gifts and planning meals there's so much extra to do. Make a list together and divide the responsibilities so you won't row over who's doing "more".

Meaningful Gifts Count

With the economic crunch take the pressure off gift buying and think of meaningful gifts that don't cost much money. You don't need money worries to stress you out! Make a scrapbook of fun memories or frame a photo of yourselves for a personal message.

Daily Dose of Love

Make time every day in the hustle and bustle to tell your partner you love them, appreciate them, and hope they’re coping with everything. Being supportive only takes a minute. And even if you don't feel like sex a little loving massage will stop you feeling stressed.