Dating in December can sometimes be a little bit off-putting… especially since there are so many other things going on (and Christmas shopping… which not everyone likes!). However, there are a few rules that you can follow to ensure that you and your partner are on the same page during this celebratory season.

Know Where the Two of You Stand

For those who are only newly dating one another, getting your status “settled” before the Christmas period comes up is a good idea. Springing constantly between “partner”, “boyfriend”, “girlfriend” and “someone I’m seeing” is not fun. However, at this time of year you’ll probably be making introductions and therefore don’t want to make a fatal slip by calling someone your “girlfriend” when it wasn’t discussed before!

Compromising

In the day-to-day run of things, it is important to accommodate the wants and needs of the other person. This is something that you should not forget about during Christmas. There may be lots of your own traditions that you would like to follow – such as going to all the gatherings of your friends and family – however you may need to compromise a little bit!

…But Don’t Be Afraid to Do Your Own Thing

What if your office parties are on during the same day/evening? What happens when her family goes to church… but yours has a party for friends? You can still go to things like this separately. You don’t have to be joined at the hip (yes, sharing these moments is nice and you will surely want to at least share some of them). Having separate lives can also help to keep relationships fresh!

Presents!

As is always said, communication is probably one of the most important things in any relationship. The same can also be said when it comes to Christmas presents! Having the discussion about when gifts will be exchanged is always good. And do not be afraid to talk about money! Knowing how much you will be spending will help things in the long run!