10 Tips to spend the holidays when your marriage is in crisis

When you are experiencing a marriage in crisis during the holidays, it can be a particularly challenging time. After all, can you have a good holiday with a bad marriage?

A crisis in marriage can make it hard to be joyous during the holidays, and a troubled marriage can damper even the most festive spirit.

Unfortunately, couples holidays are incredibly challenging to navigate when you are single, when you recently ended a relationship, or when your marriage is in trouble.

There is no denying that holidays for couples are a downer when you are alone.

How to avoid a crisis in your marriage during the holidays

There is no worse time to face a marriage in crisis than during the holidays. However, sometimes a crisis in marriage is unavoidable. Should you find yourself with a troubled marriage during the holidays, there are things you can do to alleviate stress.

• Embrace acceptance

When we learn to accept life for what it is at the moment, we are happier, healthier people overall. Even if you are facing a crisis in marriage during couples holidays, acceptance can make it a little less sad and scary.

• Make a change

No law dictates the way you spend a holiday for couples. Change things up and add your own flair to any holiday by doing something unique that makes you feel good.

Related Reading: How to Create Change in Your Marriage

• Practice self-care:

Nothing makes overcoming a marriage in crisis during the holidays more manageable than some self-care. Pamper yourself this holiday season. You deserve it.

• Let it go

If you want to know how to help a marriage in crisis, just let it go. Stop worrying, stop arguing, stop trying to fix things today, and simply enjoy life as it is now. When you learn to let go, you also learn to let love into your heart. 

If you happen to find your marriage in crisis during the holidays, there are survival strategies that can help you overcome the stress and pain that accompanies a crisis in marriage.

Stop wondering how to help a marriage in crisis by reading the tips below.

The advice in this article can help if you are wondering how to get over a broken marriage and still enjoy the holidays even when your marriage is in trouble.  

Here are some tips that may help you get through even the most challenging couples holidays while you face a marriage in crisis:

Watch former NFL player Shamiel Gary talk about letting go of emotional baggage in this video:

10 ways to get through the holidays when your marriage is in crisis

Holidays are exceptionally challenging when your marriage is in trouble. Thankfully, there are a few things you can do to combat the ill effects of a marriage in crisis during the holiday season and still enjoy merry holiday.

1. Communicate openly and honestly

Have an honest and open conversation about your concerns and expectations for couples’ holidays before they arrive. Being honest can prevent misunderstandings and conflicts.

Related Reading: 10 Reasons Why Communication in Marriage Is Important

2. Set realistic expectations

Don’t set yourself up for disappointment by expecting everything to be perfect. Instead, focus on what you can realistically do and manage your expectations accordingly.

3. Focus on self-care

Make sure to take care of yourself, both physically and emotionally. Self-care includes exercise, healthy eating, getting enough sleep, and engaging in enjoyable activities.

4. Spend time with supportive friends and family

When your marriage is in trouble, being alone is an unhealthy option. Instead, it is often helpful to surround yourself with people who uplift and support you. 

Whether you connect with these people through holiday gatherings or other means, you should seek people who can help you through the holiday for couples while keeping your energy positive.

Related Reading: 11 Ways to Spend Some Quality Time With Your Partner

5. Volunteer

Just because you are dealing with a marriage in crisis does not mean you cannot assist someone else. Helping others can bring a sense of purpose and fulfillment during a difficult time. Consider volunteering at a local food bank or shelter during the holidays to distract your mind from your marriage in crisis.

6. Make new traditions

One of the most challenging aspects of the holidays is the traditions accompanying them. Consider starting new traditions if old holiday habits are painful or difficult to deal with at the moment. You can create new couples’ holiday traditions that are meaningful to you.

7. Take time for yourself

During couples holidays, when your marriage is in trouble, permit yourself to step away from the chaos. Turn the holiday for couples into a time for reflection, meditation, or inner peace. Take the couples holidays and make them personal holidays instead.

8. Practice gratitude

While it can be challenging to have gratitude when your marriage is in trouble, gratitude can be a powerful tool. Focusing your energy on what you’re thankful for can shift your perspective and bring a sense of joy back to any of the holidays for couples.

Related Reading: 10 Ways to Show Gratitude to Your Spouse

9. Seek support

Don’t be afraid to seek help when dealing with a marriage in crisis and facing a holiday for couples. You may find peace and renewed purpose through marriage crisis counseling, a support group, or by completing the save my marriage course.

While it can be challenging to get through couples holidays when your marriage is in trouble, help is available. Seek help for a marriage in crisis and look for marriage crisis advice if you are struggling and experiencing a troubled marriage so you can enjoy a merry holiday season. 

10. Be gentle with yourself

A crisis in marriage can make couples’ holidays difficult, and being kind and compassionate with yourself is essential. Allow yourself to feel your emotions and take things one day at a time. A troubled marriage may make the holidays harder, but there is still a lot to celebrate.

Remember, taking things slow and prioritizing your own well-being is okay. Couples holidays are a time for joy, whether you are facing a marriage in crisis, are flying solo for the first time, or working to find help for a marriage in crisis,

Regardless of your situation, it’s okay to acknowledge that things are challenging and prioritize yourself.

What to do to overcome any marriage crisis?

Marriage is not easy. In fact, it is downright difficult at times. However, with a common goal and a lot of love, you can overcome any crisis in marriage.

There is endless marriage crisis advice and countless websites outlining what to do or not do to overcome a marriage in crisis. I have only one piece of advice to share.

Do what works for you. Do what feels right.

It is easy to tell you to swallow your pride, to remember that Christmas is about the kids, or to grin and bear it, but the truth is not so simple. 

If you have a marriage in crisis during the holidays, the best thing you can do for everyone is to do what feels right for you. After all, even as a couple, you are unique. What works for others may not work for you, which is okay.

When you do your best and stick to what works, everyone wins. While you may not create the holiday memories you dreamed of, it will be easier if you do not stress yourself out about perfection.

Make the best of a bad situation and focus on the silver lining.

Commonly thought of questions!

Do you still have questions regarding how to navigate through holiday stress amid a tense relationship? Let’s try to answer them to make the picture clearer for you.

• Why are the holidays so hard for couples?

The holidays are often considered a time for love, joy, and family. However, it can be hard to find delight when your family barely holds itself together.

Finding ways to have a memorable holiday even when facing a marriage in crisis is essential. To help you navigate the couples holidays, use the following tips.

• Put yourself first

People are always worried about looking selfish, but what is wrong with being selfish sometimes? You must make yourself a priority because no one else will do it for you. If you are dreading an event, don’t go. 

If you would rather lounge in your pajamas, do it. Having a merry holiday is about making yourself happy. Your happiness is a priority because you can’t help others be happy without it.  

• Let go of expectations

The holidays are filled with expectations, and when your marriage is in trouble, it can be hard to live up to them. Forget about creating the perfect holiday and focus on making one unique to you and your situation. 

No one will remember that year you did not make your famous holiday yams. If it is too much to handle, don’t do it.   

• Focus on the moment

Living in the moment is one of the best things you can do for yourself, even if you are not experiencing a troubled marriage. When we stop worrying about tomorrow and focus on the moment we are in, our stress seems to fade away. 

Do what you can to be happy now. Everything else will fall into place.

• How do you handle holiday stress?

The holidays can be a joyous and blissful time. Unfortunately, the holidays can also be a time of stress and anxiety. So how do you fend off stress during the holidays?

• Don’t overdo it.
• Do take care of yourself.
• Don’t expect perfection.
• Do accept that things go wrong.
• Don’t agree to every invitation.
• Do choose events that make you happy. 

While we all want a perfect holiday, the universe has a funny way of throwing curveballs. Learn to accept imperfections and embrace the moment if you’re going to ward off stress during the holidays.

Holidays are meant to be enjoyed!

A marriage in crisis can make it difficult to enjoy couples holidays or any day for that matter. After all, how can you focus when your mind constantly questions how to get over a broken marriage? 

Forget about how to help a marriage in crisis and focus on how to make this moment great instead. Using the lessons provided in this article, depressing couples holidays can become joyous celebrations of yourself.

Take your time and do what feels right for you. The holidays are hard, even in the best of situations, but don’t make them more complicated by worrying about your troubled marriage.

When it comes to a crisis in marriage, the problem will not get fixed overnight. Enjoy the holidays and sort through the problem later.