New Year’s resolutions are often made with the best of intentions but keeping them is another story. Many of us set ambitious goals every January, only to feel overwhelmed by February. But what if resolutions didn’t have to be a solo challenge? What if the whole family got involved?
Setting family resolutions can turn positive changes into something shared, supportive and fun. Instead of focusing on individual pressure, it becomes about working together, creating memories, and building habits that strengthen your family life throughout the year. Whether you want to improve well-being, boost connection, or simply introduce more joy into everyday routines, 2026 offers the perfect opportunity to approach resolutions differently. Below are fresh ideas your family can try together this year that are not only achievable but meaningful and designed to bring everyone closer.
HEALTH AND WELLBEING
Weekly Active Hour: Choose one hour each week for a movement activity you all do together. This could be a walk, a living-room dance session, a bike ride, or even family yoga. Keeping it simple makes it easier to stick with.
• Healthy Recipe Rotation: Each week, a different family member chooses a new healthy meal or snack for everyone to cook and try together. Over the year, you’ll build a colourful new recipe repertoire.
• Mindful Mornings: Start one morning each weekend with a simple mindful activity—stretching, breathing, journaling, or stepping outside for fresh air before screens appear.
• Sugar Swap Challenge: Pick one sugary item a week to swap for a healthier alternative. Let the kids help choose the replacements to keep it fun.
QUALITY TIME
Unplugged Evenings: Designate one evening a week as a screen-free night. Play board games, tell stories, work on puzzles, or make hot chocolate and chat. The break from screens allows everyone to truly reconnect.
• Monthly Memory Maker: Plan one special activity each month, big or small, that becomes a family memory. It could be a picnic, a museum visit, a baking afternoon, or stargazing in the garden.
• Rotation Reader: Choose a chapter book as a family and take turns reading aloud. Hearing each other’s voices brings the story to life, and it’s a lovely way to wind down before bed.
• Family Check-Ins: Once a week, go round the table and share a “rose, thorn, and wish”—something good from the week, something tough, and something you’re hoping for. It encourages open communication in a gentle, engaging way.
KINDNESS AND COMMUNITY
12 Acts of Kindness: Each month, do one small act of kindness together. Donate to a food bank, bake for a neighbour, leave a positive note for someone, or help clean up a local park.
• Volunteer Together: Choose a cause you all care about, such as animals, the environment, or helping others. Volunteer as a family throughout the year, this teaches empathy and creates powerful shared experiences.
• Gratitude Wall: Instead of a jar, create a wall or fridge space for thank-you notes. Family members can add sticky notes anytime something good happens. Read them together on New Year’s Eve 2026.
• Seasonal Giving Boxes: At the start of each season, pick items to donate— winter coats, books, toys, or unopened toiletries. It’s a manageable way for children to practice generosity all year.
LEARNING AND GROWTH
Learn Something New Together: Pick a skill as a family, such as photography, baking, arts and crafts, or learning a few phrases of a new language. Set small goals and celebrate progress together.
• Adventure Days: Try one new outdoor place every season, like a forest, a beach, a hiking trail, or even a new park across town. It helps children appreciate nature and keeps weekends exciting.
• Home Project Challenge: Choose one DIY project per quarter. It could be organising a room, planting herbs, or building something simple. Encourage kids to help with ideas and decisions.
• Curiosity Hour: Once a week, let each family member bring one “I wonder…” question to the table. Look up the answers together. It sparks creativity and learning for everyone.
CHORES AND RESPONSIBILITY
10-Minute Tidy Race: Put on a song and tidy the house for 10 minutes together. Short bursts prevent overwhelm and keep chores light-hearted.
• Family Savings Goal: Pick a shared goal, like a day trip, a special outing, or a new outdoor toy, and save for it together. Use a family jar or chart to track progress visually.
• Garden Together: Grow vegetables, herbs, or flowers and let each child care for their own section. Watching things grow teaches responsibility and patience.
• DIY Skills Month: Choose one month in 2026 to learn practical skills together. Like simple repairs, sewing, cooking basics, or budgeting. These skills empower children and lighten the parenting load later.
MINDFULNESS AND CONNECTION
Create a Family Vision Board: At the start of the year, cut out photos, words and drawings that represent goals and dreams. Display it somewhere visible to keep everyone inspired.
• Connection Rituals: Introduce small daily habits that strengthen bonds. It could be a morning hug, a bedtime gratitude moment, or a weekly walk with no phones.
• Conversation Cards: Make a set of family question cards and pull one at dinner. Topics can be silly, thoughtful, or imaginative.
• Monthly Reset Night: Once a month, take an evening to slow down. Light candles, play calm music, reflect on the month and talk about what you’re looking forward to next.
