Family Goals: Habits to Make the Most of Your Year

The beginning of a new year can bring on a sense of excitement as we can hit the refresh button from the previous year. With all these feelings of hopeful bliss, we also get this sense of dread of what we could be doing better – eat better, exercise more, spend more time as a family, etc… 

It doesn’t need to be so daunting! Setting goals as a family can be exciting instead of a chore. Here are a few ways you can motivate your family in the new year.

Be Kind to Yourself; Take it in Strides

The reason why so many people don’t make it past a month or two for their New Year resolutions is because they try to change something they feel they’re failing at. Treating a resolution with guilt or shame triggers a stress activator in our brains. 

Stress is not conducive to a productive or motivating mindset and instead does the complete opposite. It shuts down our learning, our persistence, and our will to move forward. Instead, pick positive and attainable goals as a family like picking family activities to do each week or making a conscious effort to sit down for family dinner every night.

Mealtime is Family Time

Growing up, I had a big family and the one time we would all be together is for dinner. It was a time where we would all be in the same room; it was a time for community. This is also a great time to introduce new foods. 

My mom was a great cook and in the beginning of the year she would try out new dishes to make us eat healthier. Some meals were an absolute favorite and others missed their mark, but it always kept the mood light and got us out of our comfort zones.

Achievable Goals

Before even setting a goal as a family, you need to ask yourself: “What kind of family do we want to be this year?” Goals that align with the lifestyle of your family will be more attainable than those that you view as ideal. 

If your goal is a blanket statement like “the family needs to be more active,” you’re not giving your family something they can achieve. Instead try “let’s go biking every weekend.” This is something specific; something that can be tracked. It’s ok if you don’t always hit your target. We all have lives and it can get in the way, but don’t let it become an excuse for not moving forward.

Happiness Starts with You

Unfortunately, you can’t force happiness. Sometimes parents believe that if they fix how their children behave, how they engage with their partner, or even change who they are as a person, they will then achieve a sense of peace in the household. Happiness starts with nurturing habits that support the family structure from the foundation up.

Happiness doesn’t require punishment but rather self-compassion and a growth mindset. When parents start treating themselves with compassion it’s easier to find calm in the home. This stability is essential for strengthening the familial relationships all around and allows for an environment of continual growth as the dynamics inevitably change.

You’ve got this! Keep your eye on the prize and remember that all these little changes can make s huge difference by the end of the year.