All over the world, there are different traditions for celebrating Christmas, and many of us don’t celebrate it at all! 

So, what’s the one thing we all have in common?
We are all in relationship – and Christmas and other important cultural holidays can be a unique, wonderful, stressful, and challenging time for relationships across the board.

But why?

• Time off and higher product demand means tighter deadlines and a heavier workload for businesses across many industries
  
  
• In contrast to this, offices can experience lower productivity as team members ‘wind down for the holidays’
  
  
• New relationships are formed during social events
  
  
• We may spend concentrated time with “close” or “distant” family members and friends who we usually only see in small doses
  
  
• Spending increases around Christmas which can cause tensions
  
  
• The perception of the perfect Christmas can feel pressurising

How can we keep ourselves safe (and sane) during this time whilst in relationship?

First of all, let’s look deeper into why Christmas might be a mixed experience:

• There is a rush to complete end of year deadlines
  
  
• Work load can either increase dramatically, or have a down period depending on the industry. This can create stress due to overload, or worry due to less income
  
  
• Christmas is commonly viewed as a time for bonding and spending quality time with people who matter to us. We may be very grateful for some of our relationships. We may also reflect on why certain relationships aren’t where we would like them to be
  
  
• Our relationship with Christmas has changed – we may remember Christmas as being exhilarating due to our parents dutifully hyping it up for us as children. As we have grown up, this excitement has tapered away and we now need to build up the enthusiasm for ourselves
  
  
• Perhaps we associate Christmas with the loss of a loved one, or a trauma we have experienced
  
  
• Christmas is often an exciting, festive and social time!

As we practice in “ORSC”, not all relationships have to be “good” to function, but we have our reasons for why we remain in these relationships, nonetheless. 

It’s important to focus on why we have made that commitment to be in relationship, regardless of its challenges.

And we believe that this approach combines the meaning of ORSC™ with the Christmas spirit.

ORSC tools that will help your Christmas be the best it can be

I view Christmas as the Ultimate ORSC Challenge and see it as a great opportunity to practice many of the tools we preach:

• The Third Entity (ORS@Work/Fundamentals). Christmas is the third entity in this context. 
  
  
• DTA (ORS@Work/Fundamentals) – Designing a  Team (Relationship) Alliance. Work with your partner/family/team at work to establish your common goals. What do you want the atmosphere to be like? What would help you flourish as a unit? How do you want to behave if things get difficult? How can you personally commit to making the Christmas period the best it can be?
  
  
• High dream & Low Dream (ORSC Path). What’s the best-case scenario? (High dream) What‘s the worst that could happen? (Low dream).

A powerful way to harness these high/low dreams is to make them conscious to our partners, colleagues and ourselves.

How have you used ORSC this Christmas? We would love to hear about which tools and skills have worked for you. Share your story with us at info@crruk.com or use the form below!

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