7 Tips for Dealing With Family and In Laws During The Holidays
Do it the Goddess Way.
Handle, plan and be prepared for the holidays with in-laws and family. No more stress and overwhelm.
Without losing your mind, your relationship...or your temper!!
Bring your relationship closer and stronger than ever with these sanity-saving tips. With your new man or with your long-time partner.
Related articles:
How do you handle in-laws and family during the holidays like a Goddess?
Without having a meltdown?
I’m going to give you some great tips.
I encourage you to consider these before you start the holiday season.
You’ll know how to:
· open up a dialogue with your partner
· share your boundaries
· fall in love with the word “no”
· avoid over scheduling your calendar
· compromise and be considerate without being a people pleaser
· be open and flexible
#1. Open Up A Dialogue With Your Partner
Doing so will ease any tension and help avoid any unnecessary conflict.
You’ll want to have this conversation with your partner so that you can both talk about your fears, concerns and expectations so you both know where each other stands.
This is going to strengthen your relationship in the long run.
Have this conversation BEFORE the holiday season.
Not one day before, but in the weeks or even in the months before.
#2. Share Your Boundaries
IDENTIFY your boundaries and share them with your partner.
So many women have issues with having boundaries and enforcing them.
We’re talking about the holiday season here,
So, I’m going to just give a few examples of what some boundaries are.
Boundaries could be things you don’t want to do or subjects that you don’t want to talk about.
You want to share these with your partner and you want your partner to share theirs with you so that you can help support one another during the holiday season.
#3. Fall In Love With The Word “No”
This tip is related to tip #2.
The willingness to say no is key to avoiding any unnecessary conflict.
I get that it’s not always easy, but it is simple.
If there’s something that you DON’T want to do, then don’t do it.
No is a beautiful word and we need to say to say it more.
#4. Don’t Spread Yourself Too Far Wide
Don’t try to be everywhere at once.
Of course, everybody wants to see you during the holidays and that’s totally understandable.
But, if you overextend and overbook yourself, you’re going to end up irritable, cranky, exhausted, overwhelmed, and stressed.
You will not enjoy the holiday season.
It’s supposed to be the “most wonderful time of the year” right?
And how are you going to feel that way and be present for it if you’re all over the place?
So, what I suggest for you is to avoid creating a packed schedule.
If you and your partner choose to visit people, then perhaps you don’t visit over two people per day.
If you or your partner are introverts, even visiting one person can feel like too much.
What you want to do is strategically space out all your errands, activities, shopping and visits.
Do most of this in the weeks before the holiday season if possible.
That way you can feel more relaxed, be PRESENT and enjoy the people that perhaps you haven’t seen in a long time.
I know that some people have a great sense of obligation towards their families.
And that’s great but you have to take care of yourself.
You deserve to enjoy your holidays as well.
#5 and #6 Compromise and Be Considerate
These 2 tips go together.
So many couples argue or disagree about which family to visit and when to visit them.
And one partner feels slighted and feels like the other partner doesn’t care about their family.
Keep the peace by compromising.
Give a little and let go.
And your partner will do the same.
You’ll both get closer to what you both really want.
That way everybody wins.
Consider how other family members would like to have you involved during the holidays.
Perhaps a religious service is of the utmost importance to your partner’s mother.
Or a holiday brunch is super important to your partner’s parents.
And maybe for you and your partner it’s a simple dessert and a nightcap.
Maybe that’s central to you.
Whatever the case may be, consider others and how they would like your role to be during the holiday season.
Now I’m not saying to be controlled by that.
Nor am I saying to be a people pleaser.
Consider what’s important to them and what has perhaps been traditional for them.
And when you do that, it’s just going to make things go so much better.
And you’re going to be seen in a much better light as well.
A person who can be flexible without being a doormat and communicates their boundaries without making another person wrong, commands RESPECT.
#7 Be Open and Flexible
If you’re willing to change something in the schedule because you can, then do so.
Just the willingness to be creative with a schedule and/or the timing can make all the difference.
Now let’s just say that you and your partner don’t have a great number of responsibilities.
You’re not running businesses that are open during the holidays.
Or you don’t have any kids.
Or you don’t have any pets that require a lot of care.
Maybe you could be more flexible and more open with your schedule.
Maybe you have kids and they’re young and you can’t be so flexible, that’s understandable.
Most people are reasonable and understanding in this regard.
And if you can in even in the smallest way, be open, then doing so will make you a shining star.
You and your partner are just going to look like “hey these people are great. You know what a great family.”
You’ve just learned seven things that can help you plan the holiday season so that you can keep your sanity.
If you want to learn about:
· how to handle the actual holiday visits
· all the personalities
· how to behave
· what kind of mindset to have
So that you don’t blow a gasket, lose your mind and/or lose anything else, you’ll want to watch this video or read the blog:
How To Deal With Relatives and In Laws During The Holidays Part 2