We’re heading into the busiest time of the year. I’m already thinking about how I’m going to make sure my husband and I are making each other a priority daily. It’s important during these busy times to make your marriage a priority during the holiday season.
I know that we aren’t the only ones who struggle to find time to connect with each other during the hustle and bustle of the holiday. These are the things that we are planning to do over the next month or so to ensure that we are making time for each other. And to ensure that we keep our marriage strong as we head into the new year.
As I sit down to map out our activities for the month of December, one of the first things that I do is put our date nights for the month on the calendar. We try to have two out-of-the-house date nights planned and babysitters scheduled ahead of time. Because I know how busy this month is for everyone, and how quickly sitters will be snatched up. I also set aside one night each week for an at-home date night if we aren’t going on a date outside of the house that week. Knowing that no matter what else is going on in our lives each week, we have that intentional, quality time planned so we can connect in the midst of the chaos.
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The holidays generally mean that the entire family is together. Whether you aren’t around family very often or are just enjoying a little extra time together with members of the family who might live further away. You can use this time as an opportunity to get a little extra time away together.
Let the grandparents have some quality time with your kids and sneak away for a dessert date together. Ask one of your siblings to hang out at your house after the kids are in bed so you can catch a late movie together. Sneak out while you have extra family members staying at your house and enjoy a cold late-night walk. Or grab breakfast in the morning before everyone is up and ready for the day. I guarantee that nobody is going to want to spend every waking moment together. And there will be moments here and there when you can get in a little extra alone time.
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Just like I put date night on our calendar before making all of our holiday plans, I also mark on our calendar the days that are set aside as downtime. It can be so easy to fill every night and every weekend with seasonal activities and fun. There are so many events we want to attend and activities that we want to make sure that we get to do. I wish we had double the amount of time that we do to enjoy the holiday season. Because there are so many fun things to do and not enough time to do them.
I mentioned before that I don’t want to end the holiday season exhausted and wish for a vacation to escape from the stress of it all. Making sure that we have downtime to relax and unwind and enjoy the magic of the season helps us to have a more enjoyable time with our families and with each other during the holidays.
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Through every situation, season, and stage in life, you have to make time for your marriage. Sometimes it will seem easy to find time for each other. And other times it will take a lot of planning and thought and intentionality. The holiday season is one of those times when life can take over. And your marriage relationship can easily be put on the back burner. Don’t let that happen to you this holiday season. Prepare ahead of time to leave space for each other and work on strengthening your marriage through the season.
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