New Years’ Resolutions for the Family
‘Tis the season for gifts, family visits and big cooking. But as we celebrate in the holidays, one other tradition looms on the horizon as the year draws to a close. For many individuals, December isn’t just about Christmas but also about making plans for the new year. These plans often include making New Year’s resolutions for the family.
I am personally not a die-hard supporter of the practise because so many of our well-meant intentions just fade away with the newness of the year.
Then when we fail to achieve a goal we had set, we can end up feeling guilty. Who wants that?
So, I generally tend to steer away from hard-core goal-setting each new year.
Are New Year Resolutions for the Family Bad?
Now don’t get me wrong – goal setting has its place. Goal setting is important to keep us evaluating our lives and to keep us on the path of improvement.
The strategy is to aim for small, simple goals.
We should also recognise that we can set and achieve goals throughout the year, and not just jump on the whole list all at once on January 1.
Here at The Falmouth Family Blog, we believe that there is an important aspect of our lives that is worth evaluating and assessing – that is our home and family life.
That’s why we thought it would be good to throw out some fun ideas you could use to help your family be one step closer to our theme: being happy, healthy and holy!
Here is a list of recommended New Year’s resolutions for the family we believe would help you in the coming year.
This post contains affiliate links which may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you if you purchase via these links 🙂
Tuck Your Children in Bed
This first new year resolution for the family sounds simple, but there is something about being tucked in that soothes children and makes them even ask for it. Putting your children to bed forces us as adults to slow down and relish the limited time we have with our little ones.
That time at their bedside is an opportunity to turn off screens and be quiet together, talking about the day and expressing love for one another.
If you don’t do family devotions in the morning, bedtime is a great time to pray with your children too.
If you have more than one child in separate rooms, Mom and Dad can take turns for each child.
Try adding this to your new year resolutions for the family and see the difference it makes in you and your children!
Start a Garden
Before you tell me you don’t have acres of land to get started in this new year resolution for your family, let me remind you of container gardening. (It’s actually a thing!)
Cut out those used gallon water jugs; re-purpose an old washing machine, an old fridge, even a cup – you are only limited by your imagination and will (and access to garbage, of course!)
Starting a garden is a great way to knock off a range of other new year resolutions in one.
You will get:
- exercise
- become self-sufficient in at least one food item
- teach your children to appreciate where their food comes from
- even start a business.
This new year resolution of starting a garden is like a super-resolution!
Learn Your Family History
When it comes to making real changes, some of us have to contend with more than just a casual decision or thought.
Our ability to make notable and sustained changes may require uprooting long-standing generational curses.
For the coming new year, you could make a dedicated effort to investigate your lineage and see what you and your children might be up against.
If you find that no-one in your family history has ever risen out of poverty, or that as far back as you can tell, all the girls got pregnant at 16, or that all the men have been alcoholics, you know you can’t just keep going as if all is well.
Learning your family background may just arm you with the information you can use to get the breakthrough that will turn around your home, marriage and family life.
As the saying goes “A problem well-defined is a problem half-solved”! Don’t overlook this important new year resolution for your family.
Introduce Family Devotions
You can choose to make this new years’ resolution for your family on a weekly or daily basis.
Some families like to do it on a weeknight; others do it on a weekend morning when there is no rush to go out for school and work.
Family devotions are typically guided by the father who is biblically the spiritual head of the family. That doesn’t mean other members of the family can’t get involved, though.
Your children might surprise you in how they pray!
They can also grow in their confidence when it comes to reading and speaking publicly.
The family devotion routine doesn’t need to be too long either. You can incorporate prayer, thanksgiving testimonies, Bible reading, singing and even instruments.
If you’re considering making this change to your family routine, now would be a good time to secure a family Bible for those precious occasions.
Screen-free Days and Activities
In my younger generation there wasn’t too much technology around to require this kind of intervention.
Fast-forward to the year 2024 and technology is in your face – literally! I have seen boys sit for hours staring deeply into a tiny phone screen punching their thumbs repeatedly (playing some video game or the other).
What happened to boys playing football and climbing trees?!
Not only is the trend not physically healthy, but it is also cause for spiritual concern. The vast majority of what children are exposed to via devices is ungodly, morbid and perverse.
Now is the time to act and as such, here is a good new year resolution to institute in your family.
You can make it a “no-screen day”, or you can intentionally introduce more screen-free and fun games at your home.
Have an evening (or on the weekend) when you teach them old time games like:
- ring games
- hopscotch
- siting on the wall
- starving
- skipping
- jacks
- and board games
Check out this playlist to see some physical action you can try with your children!
Eat a Meal Together as a Fun New Year’s Resolution
You may have found that time together at the dinner table has disappeared from your home. This could arise from the fact that everyone in the family is either very busy or just detached from each other by their mobile devices.
Take back some family meals this coming year with at least one evening together at the dinner table.
Make sure the TV is off for this new year resolution for the family, so that everyone gets to talk and listen to each other.
Studies have shown that children do better mentally, emotionally and physically when they get to eat with their families.
And while you’re there, get in some table manners training too!
It’s a win-win!
Final New Year’s Resolution for the Family – Go to Church
I know. We are in the time of false prophets and false Christs. Sometimes you don’t know who is right from who is hypocrite from who is working with other spirits. Trust me, I get it.
But the same Bible that warns us about false prophets gives us two other points of instruction:
- We are commanded to investigate the fruits of so-called spiritual leaders so we can know who a true servant of God is (Matthew 7:16-23)
- We are warned NOT to forsake the assembly of ourselves with each other. (Hebrews 10:24-25)
Now if you can’t commit to going every Saturday or Sunday, at LEAST go on New Year’s Sunday. You can start there and then build up on more new year’s resolutions for the family.
Bring your whole family and go to church.
Go and think about God, think about the meaning of life. Get God-conscious.
We all need it.
Before You dive into New Years’ Resolutions for the Family!
The Bible says it is better not to vow than to vow and not pay (Ecclesiastes 5:5), so these are resolutions to consider; don’t swear on them. Just give them some thought and see which ones you would like to use to improve your home and family life.
Let us know in the comments which one you think would benefit your family!
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