A New Year’s resolution for the family is a great way to start a conversation with everyone under your roof. It’s an opportunity to talk about what matters most, what you’d like to do differently, and how you can support each other.
Did you know that approximately 38.5% of adults set New Year’s resolutions each year? And that younger adults are particularly engaged, with 59% of individuals aged 18 to 34 making resolutions.
In our house, these conversations have sparked some wins, like keeping game night alive. They’ve also highlighted where we struggle, like trying to stick to a family budget or finding a shared interest for everyone (only 9% of people successfully keep their New Year’s resolutions for the entire year).
However, the point isn’t to get it perfect, not when setting a family New Year’s resolution. The goal is to open the door to connection and to set goals that might just bring you closer together (and at the very least get teens to open up).
Set a Family Exercise Routine
As a busy parent, finding time for fitness can feel impossible, but small changes can make a big difference.
We’re looking to start with something simple, like a short 30-minute evening walk. Or on weekends, setting a family fitness challenge, like seeing who can do the most sit-ups or run the fastest in a short sprint.
If your child has specific goals, like preparing for police fitness tests (like my daughter), focus on the exercises they need, like push-ups, planks, or agility drills. Set up a backyard obstacle course or use a local park. This solution is both practical and a fun way to train as a family.
For strength training, do exercises that don’t need fancy equipment, like carrying buckets filled with water or doing bodyweight squats. This keeps the routine inexpensive.
The key thing is to make it fun by tracking progress on a family chart or using a step-counting app to keep everyone motivated.
Prioritize Family Meals
Thanksgiving and Christmas remind us how rewarding it is to sit down and eat as a family.
Even with packed schedules during these periods, we manage to make it happen, which asks the question, why don’t we do it often the rest of the year?
If your family is anything like ours, meals are usually quick or on the go. But the holidays prove that when we all sit together, it’s worth the effort.
An easy solution is to start with just one shared meal a week. Pick a night, stick to it, and make it a family routine. It doesn’t have to be fancy, homemade or takeout, it’s about being together.
Turn off the TV, put away the phones, and talk about everyone’s day. If we can do it on special occasions and enjoy it, prioritizing a family meal at least once a week would make a perfect New Year’s resolution.
Establish a Regular Family Night
This New Year, we’re setting a resolution to keep family game night going strong. We already have a game night at our house, and it’s a highlight of the week.
Honestly, it probably started because I’m a bit of a nerd and grew up loving old RPG board games. We don’t play RPGs as they can take hours, but games like Cluedo are just as fun and easy for everyone to enjoy (always make sure the games you select are family-appropriate).
It’s not about the game itself, it’s about everyone coming together and laughing over silly moments. We have a game night weekly, but it doesn’t have to be. Even if you can only manage it once or twice a month, it’s worth it.
Remember, it’s not about perfection; it’s about showing up and enjoying the time we have. This year, we’re sticking to it and maybe even trying a new game or two. Family night reminds us that no matter how busy life gets, we can always find time for each other.
Putting The Phone Second
This year, our main New Year’s resolution is to limit screen time, especially during family interactions.
We’ve noticed how often phones sneak into moments when we should be focused on each other. A simple step we’re trying is to keep our phone screens down when we’re sitting and talking.
Another rule we’re adding to the mix with phone usage is not to prioritize the beep of a phone over real, face-to-face contact. If we’re in the middle of a conversation, the phone can wait. people come first.
I don’t know whether you’ve noticed this too, but conversations are far more engaging when you’re not keeping one eye on your phone. Well, that’s what I’ve noticed when trying to talk to the kids (or teens in my case).
We know it’ll be a challenge, but small changes like this can make a big difference. It’s not about ditching phones entirely, just using them more intentionally and respecting family time.
Explore More: Learn more about protecting your children’s phones.
Create a Family Budget
Last year, we tried creating a family budget as a New Year’s resolution, but it didn’t work out. What started as a good idea quickly turned into arguments, and we eventually gave up.
In our house, the budget uncovered some tough truths, like one child getting more money than the others. That led to fights, hurt feelings, and a lot of frustration, so we stopped doing it.
While it seemed like a good plan at first, we learned it’s not always easy to make it fair. Sometimes, even well-meaning resolutions just don’t stick, and that’s okay.
This year, we’re focusing on other goals that bring us together instead of creating tension. Yet, the experience taught us to be mindful of how we handle fairness and communication in our family.
We may revisit the idea someday as it’s a fantastic New Year’s resolution to try, but for now, it’s not the right fit for us.
Learn Something New Together
We see many families recommending the goal of learning something new together. It would make a fantastic New Year’s resolution, but it just doesn’t fit our family.
The problem is, that our interests are all over the place, and no one can agree on what to try.
We can’t even get two people on the same page, let alone all five that live under the roof.
One person loves cooking, another wants to try painting, and someone else is all about sports.
It’s a great idea in theory, but it feels impossible with so many different tastes.
If your family has a shared interest, though, I say go for it, it’s a fantastic way to bond.
For us, it’s not the right fit, and that’s okay. Resolutions should work for your family, and not cause more stress or disagreements.
Establish a Family Reading Time
These days, we still share a book with our youngest, who’s a big fan of reading. But the older kids have moved on to other interests, like sports and video games. We still try to share those interests with them, but reading together isn’t really their thing anymore.
That said, we highly recommend setting a family reading time as a New Year’s resolution if it fits your household. It’s a great way to bring everyone together and share something meaningful. Books spark new conversations and give you fresh topics to discuss as a family. Even if it doesn’t work for older kids, it can still be a special tradition for younger ones.
For us, it’s a memory we’ll always treasure, even if our family reading time has shifted over the years.
