The Holiday season is undoubtedly the BUSIEST season of the year.
It’s filled with love and time to be together, sure, but it also means a full schedule and oftentimes, MORE stress. No matter what the holiday season brings for you, it’s not an excuse to put off personal growth, to cheat on your goals, to ignore your spouse, or to let go of what’s important to you! It’s essential for you and your spouse to have traditions to look forward to every single year that will help you stay on the same page and give you each peace of mind knowing there will be a chance for you to connect.
Here are some ideas to get you started
Boxes IN – Boxes OUT
We have “spring cleaning”, but the holiday season is also a great time to minimize what you have (especially to make room for what is to come at Christmas). I have to share an idea that was given to me a while back: Take all the boxes that come to your door from Amazon, UPS, FedEx, you name it, and fill them with things to give away! Get rid of equal things that come into your home and that way the clutter won’t build up! If both you and your spouse did this, imagine the excess stuff that you would get rid of. You’ll both feel better!
Plan a weekend getaway
With holiday parties, shopping galore, decorating, overtime at work and whatever else fills your schedule…it can be easy to put off date night or quality time together. So, plan a weekend getaway during the holiday season each and every year! Even if you have to save a little bit each month all year long… this will give you something to look forward to and will give you both a break from the hustle and bustle that can sometimes be “the holiday season”.
Write down new goals for next year
Plan a night together where you sit down and plan your physical, emotional, relational, financial, career, parenting, and even spiritual goals for next year. What do you want to be working towards together as a couple? How can you improve your relationship? What’s one thing you could work on (listening, communication, sex)? What kind of parents do you want to be? What changes do you want to make to your finances? What about your grocery list? How many times a week/month do you want to have sex? What are your goals together and individually? Write them down and talk about how you can support each other!
Be a blessing
‘Tis is the season for giving, after all, and an amazing tradition to start is to be a blessing to others around you. Sit down with your spouse and come up with an idea of how to give to someone else. It can be picking a loved one and taking care of their electricity bill, donating a full Christmas dinner to a family in need, donating to a local church, a meaningful charity or non-profit, or even going to your local shelter and donating some old clothes. Large or small, whatever you decide on, do something together to be a blessing to those around you!
Which holiday traditions do you and your spouse look forward to each year? Share your ideas in the comments!
Written by Anna Collins
Anna Collins lives in sunny California with her husband and two children. She is passionate about her marriage, staying at home with her kids, writing, coffee, good conversation, and game night. Her life dream is to someday write a book and see it published.
