It’s the most wonderful time of the year…and it’s also the most ridiculously busy. When you’re running around to holiday parties, scrambling to pick up last-minute gifts and trying to host nine extended family members (who all somehow need to take showers in your one-point-five bathrooms), it’s easy to forget how important it is to stay connected with your partner. Here are three ways to keep your relationship running smoothly in December, even when things get hectic.
3 Ways to Strengthen Your Marriage in December
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Published Nov 28, 2018
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Make A Shopping List Together, Then Divide And Conquer
From your aunt Sally to your office Secret Santa to that neighbor who watched your cat once, you guys have a million and one people to buy gifts for this year. (And that’s not even including your S.O.’s intramural dodge ball team.) But if you sit down and make a master spreadsheet of everyone you both need to buy for in advance, it’s easier (and much more efficient) to split up the duties. Let your partner take care of the online stuff. You can pick up the gift cards the next time you’re at the drugstore. And the last-minute mall trip? Um, brave that one together.
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Start One New Tradition (and Ditch One Obligation)
It might seem like everyone’s going all out decking the halls in magazines and on TV, but don’t forget: Nothing about the holidays is mandatory. The customs you want to keep, ditch or make your own are completely up to you and your partner. Do you guys love wearing tacky sweaters and listening to the Charlie Brown Christmas album while mulled cider simmers on the stove? Cool. Do you want to skip the presents, go out for Indian food, then see an action movie in your pj's on Christmas Eve? Awesome. Forget the imposed obligations and just enjoy doing whatever the heck you love doing together.
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Schedule One Night On The Couch, Just The Two Of You
It’s supposed to be a time of togetherness, but too often that togetherness extends to everyone but your one-and-only. So right now, before things get too hectic, block off one glorious evening for the two of you to order takeout, sit on the couch and do absolutely nothing…except maybe watch a little Netflix. It’ll give you both a chance to relax and reconnect. Otherwise, before you know it, you’ll blink and it’ll be 2019.
