1. Don’t pressure your guy to partake in events that you know he doesn’t like. We all love bragging to our friends and colleagues about how wonderful, thoughtful kind and loving our blokes are, and Christmas parties are the perfect time to drag our fellas along and prove that all that boasting was true. However, if your man would prefer not to sit through boring banter with your boss about a subject he has no clue or real interest in; it would be a good idea not to force him. He’ll only be unrelaxed and unnatural anyway, it will be apparent that he’s not interested and you giving him an ear bashing on the ride home for not making an effort will make him feel unappreciated for at least coming. Basically the night ends with both of you in a bad mood.
2. Do make presents for each other. Instead of getting your man to buy a gift that will max out his credit card, put him in debt and probably destroy his credit status. Why not try making gifts this year? I’d actually prefer a beautiful necklace I hear you protest. You’ll find that something made is actually more special, intimate and thoughtful, because it means he took time to think about you, what he knows you’d like and then put it together. Whatever he makes will be something personal, original and will leave enough money in the bank for him to pay the bills next month.
3. Don’t make such a fuss over the holidays. Relax!! Christmas is just one day out of the whole year. Fussing about buying the right gifts for family, what you should wear and how he should dress is just unnecessary hype. It also makes the whole day less enjoyable, how about going casual this year, his parents will probably find you more approachable and he will feel more relaxed and comfortable too.
4. Do make sure that you spend quality time with each other, it so easy to forget to have some alone time when your gallivanting from one family/friends party to another. Make sure this year that you get to share some special time alone, exchange your hand-made gifts, and watch the special Christmas episode of your favourite programme while munching on a box of chocs in your pyjamas. This way you can feel good in the knowledge that you had a nice quiet special time before your bombarded with the hustle and bustle of family, friends and shrieking kids.
5. Don’t forget what Christmas is truly about, it’s easy to forget because it has been extremely commercialised. If you don’t know what Christmas is really about then ponder on it a little. This might make you see how irrelevant and unimportant everything else is. Take time to reflect on where you were at the start of the year and how you and your partner have managed to make it to the end because some people haven’t.
Congratulations, your relationship is now holiday-proof!!
Christmas is supposed to be cheerful, happy and fun, so take a chill pill, don’t allow society to brainwash you into making such a big deal of everything. Spend quality time instead of money, and I guarantee that your relationship will see next Christmas!!