Christmas holidays are meant to be a time when family and friends spend quality time together, eating great food and relaxing. This is also however, also the time of year when individuals are most prone to stress and increased pressures in their relationships. Knowing how to cope with added stresses over the festive period can go a long way in ensuring close relationships do not deteriorate before the New Year.

According to figures from the Family Mediation Helpline, about 1.8 million married couples consider splitting up over the Christmas period, and this figure doesn't even take into account the number of cohabitees who go their separate ways. This indicates the need for couples to be aware that their relationships may in fact be vulnerable over this seemingly happy period. Identifying issues in a relationship that may spiral into uncontrollable problems once stress sets in is one of the steps that can be taken to ensure that relationships do not degenerate for unseen reasons.

So what is it that makes relationships vulnerable over the festive season? Sometimes issues build up over the year only to come to a head during the Christmas holidays. Money worries and problems at work may trigger bickering and flare-ups between partners. People become irritable over the tiniest things and even say things that may intentionally push their loved ones away. It’s natural to have disagreements; the key is to argue constructively to avoid the same subjects becoming "no go areas" in a relationship.

An effective way in dealing with festive season pressures is for partners to remember to open up with each other. Keeping issues bottled-up can lead to increased tensions and anxieties and a bigger explosion when an argument finally erupts. Sharing anxieties can help in becoming closer as a couple. If both partners are aware of the issues troubling their other half, actions can be taken to help each other deal with festive stresses.

The idea of hosting ‘The perfect Christmas’ can put a lot of pressure on relationships and families. Spending more than they can afford will also simply add to the list of worries over Christmas. It is important to manage expectations surrounding Christmas; don’t let it put a dampener on the day when things don’t go according to plan. By learning to be flexible and by reducing expectations, a stress free Christmas can be enjoyed within the family’s means.

The festive season is a great time to enjoy the company of special people in a person’s life, and is a time that will be remembered for years to come. By using this time as an opportunity to bond and spend quality time together, both families and couples can enhance the health of their relationships.