A relationship specialist has shed light on why January is a particularly risky time for breakups.
While relationships can dissolve at any time during the year, January stands out as a month that seems to encourage people to part ways.
Truth be told, January is challenging for many.
The month is characterized by cold, dark, and lengthy days, with the absence of the holiday cheer from Christmas and New Year to brighten the winter nights.
Not to mention, returning to work after the holiday break often means facing a daunting stack of unfinished tasks.
Bethany Burgoyne, a Sex and Relationships Expert at Vivastreet, has highlighted another significant stressor in January that can strain relationships.
That stressor is money, often a contentious issue in relationships, which can become even more challenging amid other January stressors.
“January is the perfect storm for relationship stress and, unfortunately, money often becomes a tipping point for rocking the boat,” Burgoyne explained.
“Coming out of the holiday period can leave us emotionally and financially depleted – there’s the winter blues, post-Christmas guilt, overspending hangovers and often a sense of ‘Oh God, I don’t want to look at my bank account!’”
She further noted: “With all these tricky feelings building up around finance (plus a healthy dose of seasonal depression), we can unconsciously displace that tension onto the person closest to us, and very often that’s our partner.”
As a result, that accumulated tension is often directed at one’s partner.
Burgoyne went on to say: “Money is especially triggering because it taps into our deepest fears about safety, worth and control.
“When one partner is more relaxed about spending and the other is more security-driven, it can start to feel like you’re not just disagreeing but you’re fundamentally incompatible.
“Over time that creates resentment, emotional withdrawal and a sense of ‘we’re not on the same page anymore,’ which is why so many couples reach breaking point in January.”
In addition to suggesting a ‘monthly money check-in’, Burgoyne advised: “Remember that your worth is not your bank balance, even though it can feel that way when money is tight. When couples approach finances with curiosity rather than criticism, they move from being opponents to being teammates.
“That shift alone can save relationships that feel like they’re on the brink.”