Everyone knows that planning a wedding can be stressful. However, not everyone talks about the negative affects it can have on your relationship. Fighting about the details, wanting your fiance to participate more, deadlines approaching; it is easy to get wrapped up in the negative. Not to mention all the family drama that tends to swirl around weddings; everyone has an opinion and that is not always helpful.
So how do you maintain a strong relationship during this stressful time? As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist I always suggest that my clients designate time each week to their relationship. This means putting aside work, wedding, kids, etc. to just spend quality time together. The key is quality, not quantity. Watching a 2 hour movie is spending time together, but it is not connecting you or bringing you closer to your partner.
Every week my husband and I have "Adventure Thursdays". We made a list together of all the places in Louisville that we haven't been to, but want to go (restaurants, museums, miniature golf, etc.) and then every Thursday night we dedicate to doing one of those activities. It is a fun thing to look forward to each week and it helps us get to know our city better. If we can't decide we write down a few of the ideas and put them in a hat to pick from...surprise!
Even if your schedule doesn't allow for an exact date (for example I have a meeting tomorrow night so "Adventure Thursdays" has been moved to Wednesday this week) you can still set aside time to bond with your fiance. Mute your phones, no TV, no wedding talk!
Try it! I guarantee it will help reduce your stress level or at least make it slightly easier to deal with the stress you already have. Plus, it will bring you and your fiance closer together which will make everything better!
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