Survive The Holidays — Without Breaking Up

So, it’s the holidays and you’re dating someone. Maybe this swells your heart with joy at the promise of cozy fires and some tender canoodling ‘neath a seasonal frond. Or maybe it fills you with dread at the thought of the pummeling stress test your relationship will endure on an overpriced flight to Peoria.

Group one: Go wait in the car — this article is for group two.

The lead-up to the holidays is one of the most common times for relationships to end, mostly because everything is nuts: You've got less than a month to buy and ship a zillion gifts, get ugly sweaters and wear them to parties, procure a conifer, and then jet home to hang out with your big crazy family — all while the poor sap you date tries to do the same.

So, you can give up — part with a handshake and promise not to call ‘til the new year — or you can soldier bravely forth. And we think we can help. Here’s what you need to know to make it sanely to 2014.