9 Ways to Avoid Fighting With Your Significant Other Over the Holidays

‘Tis the season to be jolly.

But from constantly trying to make it to every holiday party, dealing with in-laws, paying for expensive flights, and looking for the perfect gifts, holiday stress can definitely add up.

And before you know it, the claws are coming out and you’re getting into a pretty heated argument with your significant other, which can put a serious damper on your holiday.

So instead of letting a stressful time get the best of you, follow these simple tips to avoid fighting with your partner over the holidays.

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Ignore Family Drama:
Can’t stress this enough. Some relatives just don’t know when to keep their mouths shut and Christmas is the perfect time for relatives to bring up exes when they’re being fuelled by rum and eggnog. If you’re at a Christmas event and your significant other’s aunt brings up how much she adored their ex and you happen to overhear, bite your tongue, shrug it off, and pour yourself a drink.

Set a Gift Budget:
There is nothing worse than buying someone a beautiful cashmere sweater and they give you a gift card in return. A simple way to steer clear from being disappointed (read the next point) is to set a gift budget in advance that works for both of you. And stick to it.

Don’t Show Gift Disappointment:
Someone who cares about you took the time to pick out a gift they thought you would like and even if your boyfriend got you a scale (you did mention you needed one) be grateful. Never let the gift giver know you didn’t appreciate the gift they carefully picked out. Seriously, cheesy as it may be, it really should be the thought that counts.

Dont Let Alcohol Get The Best of You:
While you think adding the extra shot of rum to your eggnog seems like a harmless idea, getting bombed at a Christmas function can really work against you. The last thing you need to do is drunkenly tell your boyfriend you dislike his sister, or, you know, knock over the Christmas tree. Pace yourself and you’ll save yourself.

Stay Organized:
What needs to be done between now and December 31st? Make a list so you both can stay on top of what needs to be done and no one is held responsible if something goes wrong or gets forgotten.

Schedule Non-Holiday Time:
With all of your energy focused on Christmas and making sure you get to spend time with your family and friends you might forget to relax and hangout with your partner. Schedule some downtime where you and your partner can focus on each other and forget about everything else that you need to get done. Whether its planning a movie night, going on a coffee date, or setting some time aside for a quickie, you need to assure your partner that they’re still a priority.

Don’t Fight About Location:
Chances are you and your partner didn’t grow up in the same town (bonus points if you did), so it can be hard to decide where you want to spend the holidays. You’ll both have your own family traditions that you don’t want to pass up, so you need to make a compromise and split your time wisely. Perhaps you spend Christmas with your parents and then spend Boxing day with his. By not sticking to a fair plan, someone may feel like their family is getting the shaft, which is the last thing you want to be dealing with.

Avoid a Fight With the In-Laws:
You’re not always going to love every person that you meet and if one of those people just so happens to be your partner’s mother or father, just remember that your time with in-laws are always limited, so deal with it. Maybe you don’t agree with how your boyfriend’s father treats him or how his mother speaks down to you, but you can’t let them get the best of you and ruin your time. Take a deep breath, put on a smile, and ignore whatever comments they make and make the best of the situation.

Don’t Let Money Dictate Your Holidays:
From booking expensive flights to visit your partner’s family to buying gifts for all the people you care about, the month of December will not be easy on your wallet. Money stress makes everything worse and can lead to arguments because you’re worried the holidays are going to hit you too hard financially. Instead of snapping and taking it out on your partner, make a holiday budget that will cover all holiday-related expenses including, gifts, entertaining, and travel.

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