Updated by Ashley C. on January 3, 2022
The New Year is here! It’s time to look back, reflect, and celebrate all you’ve accomplished. You’ve made it through 2021, and that is huge. Woohoo!
Now’s also the perfect time to make those big plans for the new year.
Yes, it’s time for New Year’s Resolutions.
Wait — don’t groan and give up yet! If you feel skeptical of this whole resolution practice, we totally get that. They can be a drag and disappointing when they don’t work out. We’ve all been there trying those failed fad diets in the past. Ugh!
But that’s not what resolutions are all about. They don’t have to feel impossible or punishing. In fact, when done right, they can be FUN — especially when you get the whole family involved!
Instead of focusing on grand ideas of health and wealth, look for a few ways to bring more fun, adventure, and connection to your family next year.
Need a few ideas? Here are our FAVORITE resolutions that everyone in the family can get in on!
🌟 Start a weekly family fun night
Creating new traditions as a family is one of the best things you can do for your kids. These are the memory-making moments they’ll look back on years from now. If you don’t already have a weekly family fun night, now is a great time to start!
Fridays can become movie and pizza nights. Or turn a boring Sunday afternoon into board game time. Even 30 minutes every Thursday working together on a puzzle can be time well-spent.
Whatever your family loves doing, make it a new ritual. Have fun, connect, and laugh together. This is what family time is all about!
🌟 Try something new and exciting each month
There’s so much to see and do in the world, and who better to experience it with than your family? There are many adventures to discover together, even just in your hometown or state!
Sit down with your kids and ask them what they would love to do. Add in your favorites and plan out your family’s adventures for the year.
Make 2022 a real-life choose your own adventure! You can paint pottery, hike to a waterfall, visit a new park, go to a family yoga class, or visit your local zoo. It doesn’t have to be big or expensive — just get out and try new things together! Take lots of pictures and you’ll have a phone full of memories to carry you into next year.
🌟 Create yummy moments together
Have a home full of foodies? Pick a night every week, or even once a month, to experiment with new recipes and flavors.
Flip through a cookbook and let your kids make the menu. Or allow kids who are culinarily inclined to come up with their own delicious creations.
If cooking is not your jam (or you’re feeling a little nervous about handing that over to the kids), make a plan to try one new cuisine every month. Thai, German, Chinese, Cuban… give them all a go! Grab takeout, or get adventurous and recreate your favorite Pad Thai dish at home. Your whole family can enjoy experimenting with food together.
Do you or your kids need a little extra incentive to branch out? Try making your edible adventures a monthly competition! Team up or work individually to create new dishes. Or challenge each other to try something new. See what tasty treats you can whip up, and at the end of the year put together a recipe book with your favorites. Yum!
🌟 Volunteer and give back
The holidays are over, and everyone is going back to their normal lives. Now is the time your favorite charity needs you the most.
What’s a cause that speaks to you and your family? It can be something small but impactful, like picking up litter at the park or donating gently used toys and books to an organization that helps families. Or visit a local retirement home to bring the residents a little extra joy. Even helping an elderly neighbor with their yard work can be a great way to give back.
Let everyone take turns choosing a cause they want to support, then rotate through them. One day a month is a great start. And if you have more time to give, that’s amazing. There are SO many ways to pay it forward as a family, so get out there and spread the love!
🌟 Enjoy more time in the great outdoors
Getting outside is a great way to end your day. After spending long hours apart at work and school, there’s no better way to reconnect with each other.
Plan to get outside several times every week. This doesn’t mean you have to go for a hike or drive to a playground (though those are great options). Sometimes you just need some time in your own backyard or a walk through the neighborhood.
There are some great organizations to help you get outside with your kids. ‘Cause let’s face it, if you have younger children, going anywhere can feel like a chore. Check out 1000 Hours Outside for some great outside play ideas and a fun tracking sheet. And for the younger kiddos, explore the resources and classes offered by Tinkergarten and Free Forest School. These are all great organizations to help you find that drive to get outside together.
🌟 Plan a device-free day each month
This is a tough one, but anything is doable just once a month. For 12 pre-selected days out of the year, ditch those devices. No computers, no phones, no tablets, no tv, no video games. On these days, have plenty of other activities planned to keep your family busy. Fill your day with fun, so you’ll all be less tempted to pick up those screens.
Put these screen-free dates on your family calendar, and discuss them so everyone knows what’s coming. Technology can be a great way to connect with others (especially these last couple of years), and you don’t want your kids planning an elaborate online gaming tournament on those no-tech days. So make sure everyone is on board and unplug. Then enjoy each other’s company without the pressure to post about it on social media!
Family resolutions can bring everyone together
Even though many of us have been spending a lot more time with our families over the last couple of years, that doesn’t mean that we’ve been connecting. These family-focused New Year’s resolutions can bring back that feeling of joy and togetherness. No matter what you choose to do, being together in 2022 is the BEST part!
What are your family’s resolutions for the new year? Snap a picture of your list of resolutions and tag us on Instagram or Facebook @PLBFun. We’d love to follow along with your adventures in 2022!
Happy New Year!