5 Practical Family Resolutions for the New Year

This post originally appeared on AFewShortcuts.com

You hear all of these outlandish resolutions from people that you know are going to be hard to keep. Setting practical family resolutions for the New Year is essential because you are making them as a family so you can keep each other accountable. You are also setting goals that are attainable. Which means you will all feel good when you are able to keep those resolutions. These 5 Practical Family Resolutions for the New Year will make you wonder why you didn’t think of them sooner.

photo cred – depositphotos

Put the Phone Down

Think about the last time you went somewhere as a family. Picture everything around you; the place, the sounds, the smells. Now think about the people around you. How many of them had a phone in their hands? We have become dependent on our phones, so much so, that we pay more attention to them than the ones around us. A great resolution is spending less time on your phone, and more time really paying attention to those you love. Live in the moment and make memories with your family. Trust me, this is a resolution you definitely won’t regret!

photo cred: depositphotos

More Family Activities

When you think about your family years from now, you aren’t going to remember how much time you spent at work, or at soccer practice. You are going to remember that time you all stayed up late laughing and finishing an epic game of Monopoly. Have more family activities planned and unplanned. They don’t have to be expensive or fancy but start creating traditions with your family. You can start with something easy like a Friday night movie and pizza night! My favorite is taking one night a week and shutting off the TV and the phones and just having a family game night.

photo cred: depositphotos

Learn how to say “No”

“No” is one of the first words we learn to say. It is funny how we stop saying it as we get older. The next time you are asked to take on extra hours at work, or volunteer to make dozens of cupcakes last minute for a PTA meeting, remember you are allowed to say “no.” Stop taking time away from your family, and adding stress to your life because you are scared to say “no.”

One more time you shouldn’t be afraid to use “no” is with your kids. Seriously, you can tell them “no,” and they won’t melt. I see so many parents scared to tell their kids “no.” Telling your kids “no” in certain situations will make them better people. It will build character, and it will teach them that they always don’t get their own way.

For example, my son wanted to go out with his friends last weekend, but he hadn’t completed his school project that was due on Monday. I told him no, he couldn’t go out. He had to stay home and finish his project first.  While he was upset, it was only temporary. I hope this instills responsibility and helps him better manage his priorities in the future.

Skip Impulsive Purchases

How many times are you out and about and someone gets hungry, so you swing into a drive-through or convenience store? Those impulsive purchases really add up, and they aren’t generally the best healthy options. Next time you are at the grocery store stock up on some great grab and go snacks like Jif® Power Ups™ granola bars or yummy Jif® Power Ups™ creamy clusters. They are so easy to grab on the way out the door or to pack in a bag for a quick snack while you are out and about.

Now you can save that money from those impulse buys and put it toward a fun family activity that will make memories for a lifetime.

photo cred: depositphotos

Work Smarter, Not Harder

There aren’t enough hours in a day, so don’t spend yours stressing out. Work smarter, not harder by taking a few simple steps to organize your life and make it less stressful. Here are a few of my favorites.

• Assign household chores to everyone in your house. When everyone takes on a small portion of the load, it is not as overwhelming.
• Plan your meals for the week. This makes dinner and grocery shopping much more manageable.
• Order your groceries. So many grocery stores allow you to order your groceries online for in-store pickup now. Not only does this save you time in the store, but it prevents you from making those impulse buys.
• Set hours for yourself. If you work from 9 – 5, don’t bring work home to do in the evenings. Keep your work hours and your family time separate.

These practical family resolutions for the New Year aren’t hard to implement. Hopefully, by incorporating them, you eliminate some stress, make some memories, and live your best life. Shortcuts in life aren’t necessarily complicated, they are just sometimes the road less traveled.

These Back to School Must Haves that Keep Kids Recharged is sponsored by Jif® Power Ups™ All opinions are 100% my own.