Strengthening Your Family Bond Through New Year Resolutions

The New Year brings a fresh start, and with it comes the perfect opportunity to set meaningful goals. For families, this can be more than a tradition; it’s a powerful way to strengthen bonds, prioritize development, and create a harmonious household.

Think of your family as a team—a sports team, a business team, or any other group working toward a shared vision. Each member plays a crucial role, yet they bring different skill levels and learning curves to the table, all are aiming for the ultimate vision: a great family everyone enjoys being part of.

Goal setting is also a wonderful way to help your children master essential life skills, including prioritizing, organizing, problem-solving and impulse control. Let’s face it—adults are still learning too! But the beauty of setting goals as a family is that you embark on this learning journey together. It’s not just about achieving the goals but about building resilience, communication, cooperation while developing life-long skills.

To start off, I'm making things easy for you (that's my job!) - I've created a FREE easy downloadable template for you to use. It's the same one my family has been using for years - I hope you enjoy it too. Simply click here to learn how to get this FREE download in your inbox. 

Now that you've got your sheet, here are three actionable steps to help your family start setting and achieving meaningful goals:

Step 1: Start with Family Values and Priorities

Before diving into specific goals, it’s essential to identify what truly matters to your family. You and your partner should take some time to discuss your family values and priorities for the year ahead.

Your family’s goals should align with what is most important for your specific family and what's on tap for the upcoming months. This ensures that the goals are meaningful and connected to your daily life. When goals reflect your values, they foster a sense of purpose, making them more motivating and easier to achieve.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid: 

• Overloading your plate: You can’t do everything at once. Narrow your focus to two or three key areas to avoid burnout.
• Copying others’ goals: Every family is unique. Don’t set goals just because they worked for someone else.

Some Great Examples: 

• Health and Nutrition: “Let’s plan and cook healthy meals together three times a week.”
• Quality Time: “We’ll schedule a weekly family game night or outdoor adventure.”
• Responsibility: “Everyone will contribute to household chores to create a more organized home.”

Step 2: Co-Create Goals as a Family

This is a collaborative effort! Involve your kids in setting meaningful goals that are in alignment with your family goals (as outlined in Step 1). Create a fun, open process where everyone contributes ideas that are also important to them. Remember, you are the leader here AND kids are still developing the skillset to create, work toward and achieve goals. Be patient and remember that engaging your kids in the process is key to building ownership and enthusiasm. 

How to Do This:

• Host a Fun Family Meeting: Make the atmosphere lighthearted and engaging. Bring snacks, go to your favourite restaurant, use colorful supplies, or even turn it into a mini party.
• Incorporate Everyone’s Input: Ask your children what’s important to them. Their ideas might surprise you and add depth to the goals.
• Focus on the Process: Emphasize that the purpose is not just to achieve the goal but to develop skills like persistence, teamwork, and adaptability.

The Power of a Goal Sheet: As mentioned before, for the past five years, my family has used a simple yet effective goal sheet. It includes:

1. Reflecting on the Past Year: Lessons and Gratitude.
2. Creating Goals for the Upcoming Year: Places they want to go, things they want to try or learn. 
3. Feelings are Part of the Process: Looking at the big picture and how we want to end the upcoming year as we tune into their feelings. 

When your family creates this together, it becomes a visual reminder of your shared efforts. Ours are posted in our home all year long, as a gentle reminder of what we set out in the new year!

Step 3: Set Mini Goals and Celebrate Wins

Big goals can feel overwhelming, especially for kids (and let’s be honest, adults too). Breaking them into smaller, actionable steps makes them manageable and achievable. And, most importantly, celebrate the mini-milestones to maintain motivation and teach essential skills. Be sure to emphasize the journey of working together over just achieving the end result. 

Key Ingredient: Celebrate Successes

Every milestone deserves acknowledgment. Whether it’s a small family outing or a simple high-five, celebrating accomplishments reinforces the value of working together.

Some Great Examples of Breaking Down Goals:

• Organized Home Goal:

  • Big Goal: “We want a more organized home so we can spend more time having fun together.”
  • Mini Goals:
    1. “Everyone picks up after themselves daily.”
    2. “Kids put away their laundry after it’s washed.”
    3. “Set aside 15 minutes each evening for a quick family tidy-up.”

• Healthy Eating Goal:

  • Big Goal: “We want to eat healthier as a family.”
  • Mini Goals:
    1. “Try one new vegetable every week.”
    2. “Replace sugary drinks with water or homemade smoothies.”
    3. “Cook a family dinner together every Sunday.”

Final  Thoughts

Setting family goals isn’t just a New Year’s tradition—it’s an investment in your family’s growth and connection. By aligning your goals with your values, co-creating them as a team, and breaking them into actionable steps, you create a roadmap for success.

The beauty of this process lies in the journey. Along the way, your family will develop resilience, communication, and a sense of accomplishment that strengthens your bond. So, gather your team, get creative, and make this year the best one yet!

What goals will your family set this year? Share your ideas and experiences in the comments—we’d love to hear from you!

And please remember to download your FREE Goal Setting Sheet here.

With care and compassion,