The awkward five-minute talk now saves you the ugly two-hour fight in June.

Small problems are cheap to raise and expensive to store. The conversation feels awkward now precisely because nothing dramatic has happened yet, which is the condition that makes it easy, and waiting adds interest in the form of resentment and collected examples. By June there is a history attached to it. The same sentence costs far more once it has been carried for months.

Say the thing this week while it is still minor and unglamorous. Keep it to one point rather than delivering a collection. Awkward for five minutes is the whole price when you pay early.