Giving and receiving gifts is a highlight of the holiday season. But sometimes, worries about material items, gift budgets, and possessions can distract us from the true meaning of the holidays. Choosing to refocus on experience and relationships can renew your perspective of the holidays and make this time of year so much more meaningful. If you want to focus on your loved ones and the memories you’ll create with them this year, you’re in the right place. We’ve gathered some tips and ideas to help you and your spouse get started. Let’s take a look. Focus on Connections With…
Holiday travel and family visits can sometimes be challenging. But focusing on joy throughout the season could make your gatherings more memorable. You and your spouse can work together to create happy experiences during your travels. Want to know how you can keep holiday travel more lighthearted? In this post, we’re sharing some tips to help you get going in the right direction. Let’s jump right in. 1. Focus on making happy memories together. Holiday travel is often a source of stress for many people. Rather than focusing on all the things that could go wrong, spend more energy focusing…
During the holidays, we’re often focused on the way things should be. But we also know that life can be unpredictable. That means we have a responsibility to create as much joy and peace for ourselves as we can. There are many ways to welcome joy and peace during the holidays, even during difficult times. In this post, we’re sharing some tips and ideas to help you and your spouse embrace and enjoy the season, whatever it brings. When It Comes to Making Holiday Plans, Stay Open-Minded One of the most significant sources of holiday stress is the question of…
The holidays are a wonderful time of year, but they can also be a source of burnout and exhaustion. When the holidays feel stressful, they eventually become difficult to enjoy. If you and your spouse have been feeling burned out around the holidays, it’s time to start reducing stress so you can enjoy the celebrations together again. In this post, we’re sharing three important ways to avoid burnout and over-commitment during the holidays. If you’re ready to gather some important tips to help you take back your joy this year, keep reading. 1. Make your holiday plans as far ahead…
During the holidays, we don’t always emphasize good health. But being psychologically, emotionally, and spiritually healthy sets the stage for enjoyable family interactions and holiday celebrations throughout the season. In this post, we’re sharing a few ways you can focus on your own well-being during the holidays – to the benefit of your marriage and family. Give Yourself the Gift of Healthy Self-Talk We don’t often pay enough attention to our self-talk, but it’s a key component to becoming a healthier person. When we speak to ourselves with love and respect, we’re more likely to be loving and respectful toward…
It’s almost Thanksgiving, and for many couples, the holidays bring opportunities to nurture family harmony. It’s common for couples to experience family conflict during the holiday season, especially since there are so many events and gatherings to attend. You’re likely spending more time together than usual. There are also traditions to consider – and traditions tend to carry a lot of emotion for those who hold them dear. However, it’s possible to emphasize harmony over conflict when you gather with family for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New Year. When you approach family gatherings in a loving way – even difficult…
When you marry, your family grows–sometimes exponentially. An expanding family means that suddenly, you and your spouse might have many more holiday obligations than you can realistically commit to. If this happens, how do you decide who to visit during the holidays? Conflicts over who to visit during the holiday season are common among couples, especially newlyweds who are trying to create balance. Navigating and negotiating holiday visits can be stressful, so it’s important to approach the subject gently. You love one another and want to build new traditions for the family you’re creating. But, you also love celebrating your…
The New Year is a time for dreaming, building a vision for the future, and setting the goals you want to achieve going forward. As the New Year approaches, you have a tremendous opportunity to support one another in both your personal goals, and your goals as a couple. We believe that this time of year is a wonderful time to truly reconnect with one another, cheer each other on, and go after your dreams side-by-side. So how can you and your spouse build a New Year’s vision together? Read on. See Where Your Goals Align When you talk with…
Gratitude is a spirit that’s front and center for many people during the Christmas season. However, this time of year can also be hectic. In the midst of the holiday bustle, it can be easy to lose sight of what we’re thankful for. As we approach this year’s Christmas celebration, we’ve listed five ways you can celebrate with thankfulness in your heart. We hope these ideas inspire you! 1. Embrace childlike wonder. There’s truly magic and wonder in the Christmas season when we take time to embrace childlike joy. So often, adults “grow out” of experiencing true gratitude during Christmas…
For many people, the holiday season is hectic and fraught with too many obligations, and too little time to fulfill them all. But what if the holiday season was a time when you and your spouse could bring a fresh perspective to your marriage? We believe that’s possible, and in today’s post, we’ll share why. A Great Opportunity to Reflect The holidays are a wonderful time to reflect on not only the past year, but on the life you’ve built together. Holidays can be an emotional time, in both good ways and bad, and they have a way of making…