Family Wellness Goals: Fun Ways to Reset Together in the New Year
Instead of one accountability partner, how about going one step further on New Year's resolutions and setting goals together as a family? We’ve rounded up a few simple ways to promote wellness and connection with your loved ones this year, with expert insight from Erin McConaghy, cofounder of Curated Care, an online marketplace and app that allows families to search, schedule, and pay for babysitters.
Cook a Nutritious Meal Together
“A desire to participate in the communal activities around us is innate to all people, so rather than thinking of additional activities to implement into your already-packed family routine, inviting your kiddos to join you in activities like cooking meals together is a perfect way to foster engagement and memorable moments,” McConaghy says.
Whether it’s Taco Tuesday or DIY pizzas on Fridays, cooking is an interactive way to bond with your kids this year. There are tons of ways to safely involve chefs of all ages—from learning towers to kid-safe knives—and you can tweak recipes based on your family’s skill level, age group… or patience! “Cooking is a terrific way to explore everything from creativity to reading and following a recipe,” McConaghy tells us. “Participating in activities like cooking also empowers your kiddo by building skills and independence.”
Go Screen-Free
Family movie night is a winter staple but mix it up with some screen-free activities. Break out the board games, get in on a simple craft or even just color together.
“Often kiddos are excited to do any activity you present to them if you introduce it with enthusiasm,” McConaghy notes. “If you have a kiddo less keen to leave the screen, remember that ‘interested’ is ‘interesting,’ even to a contrary pre-teen. If you put out the art supplies and begin your own project in a genuinely ‘interested’ way, often kiddos who prefer to decide to do something on their own rather than have it suggested to them will find this ‘interesting’ and be intrigued to join.”
McConaghy also suggests creating a jar or bowl full of questions as another source of screen-free fun. Questions can range from “What's your favorite book?” to “What's your favorite activity as a family?” Take turns doing the selecting/reading and answering.
Schedule Regular Walks
The weather outside is cold in most areas but there’s benefits to bundling up and heading for a family walk. McConaghy suggests setting a task or goal, like an outdoor scavenger hunt, to entice the kids to get outside. “Jot down items for your crew to search for and check [them] off on your walk,” McConaghy says. “This activity is easy and can keep your crew engaged while walking to and from a specific location or can provide the entire experience in and of itself.”
And remember that spending time outdoors doesn't have to mean an entire afternoon (especially if it's really cold outside!). “Reaping the benefits of stretching your limbs outside, getting fresh air, and [getting] a dose of vitamin D doesn’t require a ton of time necessarily, so even a quick reset outdoors can do your family wonders,” McConaghy assures us.
Create a Family Vision Board
Break out old magazines or books and have the kids cut out any goals or fun things they want to accomplish together as a family this year—or just create a time capsule of what they’re loving at the start of 2025. This might be a good use for all those holiday toy catalogs you have hanging around!
“For some kiddos, searching for and cutting out pictures directly tied to their goals is a fun challenge and welcomed prompt,” McConaghy tells us. “If your kiddo is younger or struggles to take this task from prompt to product, simply encourage them to create a collage of images and pictures that they like or that speak to them. A foundation for goal setting and growth is understanding yourself better in your current state, so encouraging kids, no matter their age, to create a collage of images they are drawn to is beneficial and fun.”
Declutter & Donate
Didn’t get around to decluttering the toys, gadgets, and just general stuff before the holidays? January is the perfect time to do it.
“Involving the entire family in organizing your home post-holidays keeps your home functional and clutter free,” says McConaghy. “Even more importantly though, it invites your kids to think about the value of their things. Helping your child to acknowledge what things they love, what things they no longer need, and specifically what things could be more useful to someone else, builds a healthier relationship between your child and their material goods.”
Decluttering as a family is the perfect way to love your space again—and make room for any new belongings you’ve accumulated from the gifting season.
Gratitude Jars
Start a weekly gratitude jar where each family member writes down one thing they’re grateful for each week. Write each family member’s name and the week if you choose. Fold each paper up, put it into a gratitude jar, and break it out at the end of 2025 to find out what a great year you had. Another idea—go around the table each night and reflect on family “highs and lows.” You can also play “high, low, Buffalo,” to add an element of silliness to the practice. In addition to discussing a high point and a low point of each person’s day, you talk about a “Buffalo”—something that’s weird, strange, or funny.
“Encouraging your family to take a few seconds to think specifically on what they are grateful for can improve an entire day,” says McConaghy. “Providing your family with the opportunity to review all of these small but meaningful moments of gratitude at the end of the year is an incredibly powerful and heartwarming way to take stock of a wonderful year together.”
The Related Life is written and produced by the Related Life Editorial Team. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest events, news, and announcements in your area, and tag us for a chance to be featured @therelatedlife and #therelatedlife.