By Laurel House
It can seem to be a surprising statistic at first. From now until the two weeks before Christmas, breakups are steadily climbing to the number one spot of the most popular time of year to end the relationship. That number instantly drops on Christmas Day, which is the least popular day of the year for a breakup. It spikes again in March: Spring cleaning!
Why all of the holiday heartbreak?
The holiday season is all about love and family, office parties, overindulging, overspending, stress, and cold weather. All of which can lead to cold feet. Let me break it down for you: there is a connection between the holiday intensity and its cause for heartbreak.
Love and Family
During the holidays you want to be around people you truly love; you don’t want to be involved with someone who you are not so sure about, who you know doesn’t have everlasting potential, or with whom your love has fizzled. You also don’t want to introduce your not-so-serious other half to family members. The more you focus on being with your loved ones, the clearer it becomes that your lover isn’t one of them.
Office Parties
Sure, a friend’s party would be much more fun. Even a quiet night at home with a glass of wine and some TV would be a welcome break from hectic holiday festivities. But, your significant other’s office party is tonight and, whether you like it or not, you’re going to go…and like it (or at least act like it). This is important, and it’s an expression of your dedication to the relationship. But, you may feel uncomfortable or resentful.
Overindulging
You’re eating too much, drinking too much, and your nerves are on high alert. As much fun as the excess can be, it can also lead to blowout fights that quickly escalate to the biter end.
Overspending
Like Valentine’s Day, there is the expectation of a gift exchange. And when you’re on the fence about whether this relationship is going to last through the end of the season, you may opt to end it instead. A lot of it is the un-experienced glee of gift giving! Giving is, yes, oftentimes as great as receiving. Picking out that perfect present that you just know your partner will love leaves you almost giddy! But when the last thing that you want to do is think of something clever, special, or even decent for your partner, you know there is a problem. But it’s not just about the giving. If we know that we are likely going to end it soon, we don’t want them to spend money on us! Yes, many of us are truly that selfless.
Stress
Your partner is supposed to be your shoulder to cry on, your chest to decompress on, your ear to listen, and the sage advice to ease your stressed mind. But if your partner is actually the last person who you want to go to for reprieve and comfort, the holiday season will make that repulsion even more obvious.
Baby, It’s Cold Outside
And if you have no interest in snuggling with your partner at night or stealing some romantic couple time by the fire or in a hot tub, you just might feel more iced over when you’re close to their body heat than when on your own.
So, should you end it or endure the holidays and wait for a “better time?” After all, flights are booked, the family already knows they are coming, and you are honestly looking forward to that ski trip that you planned. If you know that it’s over and that it’s just a matter of time until the inevitable conversation, then end it. Believe me, you don’t want to force togetherness, deal with the incessant triggers that will confront you, pretend to be happy and in love, wish you could be anywhere else with anyone else, and grate on each other’s nerves to the point of a near breakdown and maybe even a nasty in-the-moment breakup.
Breakups are never easy. Best advice: tell each other what you appreciate about each other, acknowledge the good in them–the reason you fell for them in the first place, thank them for what they have taught you, and authentically and lovingly express why you’re saying goodbye.
Tis the season! Now get ready for a New Year, and for the best you!
Laurel House is a dating coach and flirting expert, four-time published author and go-to lifestyle expert on E! News. Her YouTube videos that have received over 12 million views. Her fifth book, Screwing the (Dating) Rules: The No-Game Guide to Love will released in January, 2015, with Running Press. ScrewingTheRules.com
Laurel House is a Santa Monica-born, bred, and based dating and relationship coach, helping to empower her clients to be their best selves so that they can find the love the deserve. She has a no-games, rule-screwing approach, teaching her clients exactly what to say and do, how to present themselves online and in-person, and the specific strategy to find love- hard, deep, and fast, just like she and so many of her clients have. Laurel believes that dating is about clarity through communication, and with clarity comes confidence. Laurel is called a “Man Whisperer,” Dating Jedi Master, Relationship Fairy, and Cyrano. More than anything else, Laurel demystifies dating so that you can confidently date with integrity and purpose.