We’re back with our second edition of our “Bailey’s Love Tips” blog feature! In case you’re new around here, “Bailey’s Love Tips” is where Bailey’s shows its commitment to lifelong love by providing its patrons with monthly marriage and relationship tips. The blogs will be written by different authors each month, included licensed marriage counselors and other relationship experts. Bailey’s believes that communication is vital to staying in love and that some simple advice and tips can help a relationship thrive. These tips will be housed on Bailey’s blog with a new blog post each month and are available to all Bailey’s patrons, from the newly engaged to those married for decades.
If you missed our first post from Grayson Nichols, LCSW, CPCC on bringing the shine back to your relationship, be sure to check it out here.
This month we have a guest post from Meygan Caston of Marriage 365. While the holiday season should be a time for family, friends and joy, it can sometimes turn into a stressful time for couples. Meygan provides some great tips on staying connected as a couple this holiday season by incorporating some fun new holiday traditions. Thanks to Meygan for sharing and we hope our Bailey’s patrons try some of these fun ideas this year!
The holidays are in full swing and this is one of the most common times for couples to put their relationship on autopilot.
The kids, your job, working more hours to pay for the Christmas gifts, the holiday parties, a lot of travel and visiting or hosting extended family typically take up all of your time and energy. Don’t let it. One of the best holiday tips we can give you all is to create a tradition that just you and your spouse can share together this season. Something that will bring you closer and feel more connected during the holidays.
Here are some ideas:
Watch your favorite holiday movie together
Snuggle up in your pajamas, light a fire, have some wine or apple cider and watch a holiday movie together. Some popular holiday movies are The Holiday Inn, Home Alone, Miracle on 34th Street, Christmas Vacation, A Christmas Story, The Grinch, The Polar Express, White Christmas, A Charlie Brown Christmas, just to name a few. (Share yours in the comments!)
Volunteer together
No matter if it is your first year in your marriage or your 30th wedding anniversary is approaching, volunteering can help you maintain a fun and caring relationship. Not only is it going to help you bond on a deeper level as a couple, but you will also be making a huge impact with the organization you’re helping out.
Enjoy the mistletoe
Pick one night in December where the only item on your to-do list is to kiss underneath the mistletoe. Enjoy one another and the connection kissing brings to your marriage.
Exchange a book on Christmas Eve
In Iceland, there’s a very popular tradition where books are exchanged as Christmas Eve presents. Then you spend the rest of the night in bed reading them and eating chocolate. Sounds like a fun tradition to me if it includes a good book, my pajamas and chocolate. If you’re interested in marriage books, check out our recommendations here.
Buy a new ornament together every year
Your tree will eventually be full of unique ornaments that you’ve collected over the years. To take it a step further, take a sharpie and write the year and something you achieved or are proud of on the ornament so you can look back and remember.
Create your marriage goals
A great way to be intentional with your relationship is to plan ahead and write down some things you want to accomplish together in the upcoming year. This is a wonderful time to talk about where and what vacations you want to go on as well!
Thankfulness board
Buy a large poster board or get some butcher paper and write down as many things you can think of that you’re thankful for. Write some together and some separately. Once you’re done, post the poster board in your living room so you can be reminded of how blessed you both are.
Bake together
Find a recipe of a seasonal treat you both love to eat. Go to the grocery store and get all of the ingredients and then head home to bake the goodies together. (If you’re trying to eat healthy this holiday season, give the treats to your neighbors and wish them a very Merry Christmas, they’ll love it!)
BONUS TRADITION IF YOU HAVE KIDS:
Secret service day
If you have kids, put everyone’s name in a jar and have each member of your family pull one name. Pick a day where everyone does a “secret service” for the person they picked. Some service ideas would be breakfast in bed, folding their laundry, or taking over one of their chores.
