Written and contirbuted by Lindsey Hollaar, Mama's Cuppa
As the new year rings loud and clear, we pause and think of ways to improve ourselves for the year ahead. Some may refer to these self-improvement plans as new year’s ‘resolutions,' but I much prefer the term ‘commitments.' When you make a commitment, you are telling yourself (or your family) that you will not stop until you complete the task or goal.
Creating commitments is the easy part. Sticking to those commitments is the real challenge. This year, get the whole family on board with a mapped out ‘family commitments’ for 2024. Here are some suggestions for how to plan out your year-long commitments:
- Create a Google Document so your family members can contribute and share access
- Set-up a spreadsheet that outlines what you’d like to accomplish quarterly or monthly
- Design a visual timeline
- Devote a whole wall calendar to your family commitments using different colored ink for each family member
- Keep a family commitments journal where you can write out what’s accomplished, when, and how it was done
Every family is different, therefore, every family will have different aspirations and goals they’d like to reach. To get the ball rolling, here is a short list of some ideas you might find helpful.
- Get outdoors as a family. Jump in the family car and go for a hike!
- Plan more dinners at home. The healthiest eating comes from home sweet home.
- Keep the house tidy. Create a cleaning rotation with jobs for every family member to complete on a weekly basis.
- Learn a new skill together. Interested in gardening? Visit your local botanical garden or nursery for tips and tricks.
- Plan a monthly family game night. Make the weekends memorable with some pizza, a classic board game, and priceless laughs.
- Try out new restaurants. Expand your palette with a variety of cuisine that isn’t your go-to.
When you’re planning out your commitments, remember to keep reasonable expectations. Aim high, but be sure your goals are not too far fetched. Gather your family members round the table and be proud of what you’ll achieve this year!