Holidays
Holidays are supposed to be joyful, right? Then why do they cause so much stress, resentment, and marriage drama? These blogs you ditch the unrealistic expectations, set boundaries, and actually enjoy the holidays without sacrificing your sanity or your relationship.
Holidays
Holidays are supposed to be joyful, right? Then why do they cause so much stress, resentment, and marriage drama? These blogs you ditch the unrealistic expectations, set boundaries, and actually enjoy the holidays without sacrificing your sanity or your relationship.
Why She’s Really Mad (Hint: It’s Not the Flowers)
It’s February 14th. You brought home the roses. You booked the steakhouse. Yet, the atmosphere in the car is ice-cold. You’re running through the checklist in your head: I did the thing. I spent the money. Why am I still losing? Here is the truth that most...
The Men’s Guide to Romance
Tactical advice for the man who is brilliant at work but could use a "win" this holiday. In my practice, I see it every week: A man who can navigate a hostile takeover, perform a triple bypass, or engineer a skyscraper, but stands in the middle of a Hallmark aisle...
For Men: Is Valentine’s Day The ‘Last Chance’ Trap?
Why men feel Valentine's is a 'make-or-break' day for the year. For the high-achieving man—the MD, the executive, the guy who can manage a $50M budget or a complex surgical suite—February 14th isn't a holiday. It’s a Performance Review with no clear metrics and a very...
Valentine’s Day: A Survival Guide for the Overwhelmed
Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. For many, it feels like the "last chance" to redeem ourselves for being such a disappointment at Christmas. No matter that most of us are already juggling burnout, "brain fog," and a never-ending to-do list, we feel the pressure:...
How to Deal with Relationship Problems and the Holidays
You may have a hard time getting through the holidays without getting your feelings hurt or getting into a fight with your sweetie. When you are dating someone, it may disappoint you when you don’t celebrate the holidays in a special romantic way and/or if you don’t...
Radical Thoughts About Christmas
At the risk of “coming out” as a subversive, I have something to say to you that might shock you, but I also hope it will help you. I have seen lots of posts about how to have a simpler Christmas, how to lower stress at Christmas, how to get along with hideous...
How to Get Through the Holidays without Having an Anxiety Attack
You may be really dreading the holidays this year—to the point of having an anxiety attack or at the very least an emotional meltdown. A lot of people do. Perhaps someone close to you has died, and you miss them terribly. Perhaps you are trying to have a baby, and...
How to Survive In-Laws at Christmas
Dear Lynn, My husband and I are going to my mother-in-law’s house this Christmas. I’ve avoided going there for several years because my mother-in-law is very cool and distant with me and in the past I haven’t had a good time staying there. This year I have to go - any...
Why You Get So Stressed during the Holidays and What to do about it
The holidays seem to make everything worse. If you are generally annoyed about something your sweetie does or doesn’t do, you might become intensely stressed about that same thing around the holidays. It’s kind of like a full moon that lasts longer. More accidents,...
Discuss your holiday expectations to avoid disaster!
Family rituals are the glue that holds families together. And they really come into play during the holidays. Now is the time to sit down with your spouse and decide what traditions you want to keep from your families of origin, and what traditions you would like to...
Christmas is Coming: Time to Be Proactive, Not Reactive
As the holidays approach, you have a choice: go with the flow and end up overwhelmed, or take charge and make Christmas work for you. That’s right—decide now how you’d like to spend Christmas, from the amount you’ll spend to the traditions you’ll keep (or skip) this...
The “Joy” of the Holidays? Let’s Get Real.
This time of year is a mixed bag, and anyone who tells you otherwise is either lying or selling something. Yes, there's the standard fare of gatherings, glitter, and enough seasonal treats to justify buying stock in elastic waistbands. But for a frankly huge number of...
