6 Realistic New Year's Resolutions for Parents
Happy New Year from the Name Bubbles Team!
There is something so rejuvenating and motivating about a new calendar year. Many people find this time of year the perfect opportunity to set new goals and challenge themselves and their lifestyle with New Year’s Resolutions.
However, if you set New Year’s goals before and haven’t met your resolutions – it can be a big disappointment and a catalyst to your initial excitement to motivate your life. We believe the key to setting resolutions is to set realistic goals. We all love to shoot for the stars, but it’ll be hard to achieve those ‘stars’ in just one month or week. So in this blog post, we will discuss 6 Realistic New Year's Resolutions for Parents that will bring you a couple of steps closer to those stars and achieving your goals and own personal resolutions!
Goal #1: Spend less time scrolling through social media
Being present and spending less time on our screens and more with our family is a realistic goal all parents can make! We all fall victim to the bottomless pit of hilarious and relatable content, but too much of anything is never a good thing. Open your phone, head to your settings, and check your screen usage. If you’re shocked at the amount of time spent on TikTok or Instagram, you are definitely not alone!
A realistic goal is to limit screen time and social media usage by at least 1-2 hours. Out of a 24-hour day, 1-2 hours isn’t a big sacrifice, but it can make a world of difference in the opportunities you’ll have to spend with your kids, partner, and friends.
Here are a couple of ideas on how to spend 60 to 90 minutes of your day on something other than social media:
- Reading books to your kids
- Cleaning up your kitchen
- Taking a walk outside & enjoying fresh air
- Playing a board game with your family
- Creating an easy craft idea for your kids
- Taking your car to the car wash
- Baking a yummy recipe
Goal #2: Move your body at least once a week
One of the most popular New Years Resolutions people make is to go to the gym or move their bodies more. Oftentimes, this goal is unattainable since people will write down “exercise every day” or “go to the gym 4-5 times a week”. If you’re starting from scratch, instantly working out every day can be pretty daunting and unfamiliar in a weekly routine.
A realistic goal for parents is to move your body at least once a week! Don’t limit yourself to what this exercise could look like – focus more on the idea of trying out different exercises and finding something you enjoy and will increasingly start to prioritize. Here are a few exercise ideas we recommend:
The 12-3-30 Method:
Popularized by influencer Lauren Giraldo, this workout is perfect for a busy parent who is looking for a quick and easy way to challenge their bodies. Set your treadmill at 12 incline and 3 miles per hour speed. Walk for 30 minutes and then your workout is complete!
Yoga or Pilates:
These low-impact exercises are easy to do at-home and with a busy schedule. All you need is a clear space to roll out a yoga mat. We love those exIf you’re looking for online videos to watch, we recommend YouTubers like Yoga with Adrienne or Blogilates for free online yoga and pilates classes.
Recreational Sports:
Many adults enjoy joining recreational sports leagues for tennis, golf, or even basketball, soccer, or volleyball. Not only is this a great way to make new friends and build community, but this is an easy way to move your body at least once a week. Check out your local gym or recreational space for adult rec leagues you could sign up for.
Goal #3: Prioritize a Monthly Date Night
Date night might seem like a far-off and mysterious concept ever since you and your partner had kids, but this year we want you to bring them back! Every month, choose a night where you’ll make sure to tuck the kids in and spend some quality time with your partner.
This doesn’t have to be an expensive night out on the town – it can be as simple as renting a movie you both wanted to watch, cooking dinner together at home, or having a picnic in your backyard. The point is to make sure you prioritize this monthly date night and make the most of the time together.
Goal #4: Keep that Closet Clean and Organized!
Many times your closet is the neglected space in your home that turns into a massive mess you’ll have to clean when spring comes. A great goal for the new year is to maintain a clean closet! This might seem intimidating, but an easy way to do that is to take mini steps to maintain a clean space.
Donate Your Clothes
A good rule of thumb is to donate a bag of clothes you haven’t worn in 5-6 months every season. If you have an over-flowing closet, you can make a rule for yourself that each time you purchase something new, you have to donate something old.
Use Organizers
Organizers will save your life when it comes to closet cleanliness. Use shoe organizers, jewelry organizers, and hat organizers to give all your clothes a ‘home’ inside your closet.
Goal #5: Set boundaries and create balance in life
It’s all too common that we often have the tendency of putting their own needs last in order to take care of their kids, spouse, parents, etc. This year, focus on creating healthy boundaries and ensuring there is a balance between your needs and the needs of others.
Set specific times each day where you can take time for yourself – this could be in the form of reading a book, taking a bubble bath or shower, or going for a walk around the block. Find something that helps you relax and unplug from the stress of day-to-day life.
Goal #6: Take time to connect with long-distance friends and family
This year, make sure you take some extra time to check in on loved ones who are far away. Technology has made it easy for us to stay connected with our friends and family – even if it’s just a quick text to check in on how they’re doing.
If you have family members who live far away, think of creative ways to stay connected with them – whether this is through virtual movie nights or even setting up monthly Zoom calls. If you have busy schedules, send handwritten letters and postcards every once in awhile too – these little actions can make a big difference in your relationships and don’t require a lot of time commitment.
Happy New Year from Name Bubbles
These are six New Year’s realistic resolutions you can focus on this year to help bring balance, health and happiness into your life as a mom. We hope these new year’s resolutions are achievable and allow you to start a new beginning for 2023. Self-improvement can be extremely intimidating to many parents, but our goal is to help you take steps towards a meaningful and healthy year. We hope you have an amazing 2023 full of progress, joy and lots of love. Happy New Year!
