Realistic New Year’s Resolutions For Any Mom

It’s already the end of 2021, and soon we’ll be ringing in the new year! This is a time to pause and reflect on the highs and lows of the past year and focus on the future with a renewed sense of drive and commitment. However, it can be difficult to come up with resolutions as a busy mom who tends to focus all her time and attention on her family. This week, take some time to grab a journal, find somewhere quiet, and jot down a few personal goals for the new year. 

Here are some ideas - but your goals are entirely up to you! 

1. Stress less. This is easier said than done, but it’s a helpful goal to aspire to. Some things that can reduce stress are getting enough sleep, making sure you don’t have any vitamin deficiencies, going on walks, eating a balanced diet, spending time with friends, reading, and setting healthy boundaries when it comes to work and responsibilities. If the housework is becoming unmanageable, hire a maid. If you need more sleep at night, have your partner get up during the night to give the baby a bottle. If you need a break, hire a babysitter or nanny to come for a few hours a week. When you feel overwhelmed, you can’t operate at your best. It’s okay to prioritize yourself, too. 

2. Stay hydrated. Drinking enough water is a good habit to focus on in the new year, especially if you’re breastfeeding. It’s tough to narrow down an exact amount of water every person should drink, but aiming for anything between 60 and 100 ounces is a reasonable place to start. If you have trouble remembering to drink water, consider buying a 1-gallon water bottle so you can track your progress throughout the day. You can also try different flavors of sparkling water, hydration drinks, or flavor additives to add some variety. Don’t count on coffee, soda, or juice to keep you feeling hydrated - focus on pure water if you can! 

3. Be active each day. You don’t have to do formal workouts every day to stay healthy, but you need to move your body every single day. Walk up and down the stairs a work a few times. Stand up and take a stretching break every hour at work. Go on a brisk walk around your neighborhood. Find a local trail and go on a hike. Park at the back of the parking lot when you run errands. Turn on some music and have a quick dance party. Use your baby as a weight to do some squats and lifting exercises. Wear your baby in a carrier as you do housework. There are many ways to stay active aside from going to the gym. 

4. Spend intentional, quality time with each child. It doesn’t take a lot of effort to spend quality time with your little ones. Even if you just set a timer for 5 minutes a day, eliminate all distractions, and play with your child, this can make all the difference. Turn off your phone, put the laundry aside, and give your child your undivided attention for some time each day. Your children know they’re loved by the way you treat them with respect and compassion. 

5. Set limits on social media. Do you find yourself reaching for your phone every morning? Do you stay up late scrolling through social media instead of sleeping? Set a time limit for yourself and choose a new habit instead. When you wake up, go wash your face or make the bed instead of grabbing your phone. At night, read a magazine or spend a few minutes working on your journal or baby book. 

6. Pick up a new hobby. If your life is seeming like a broken record, try choosing a new hobby! Dance, sports, arts and crafts, writing, fashion, and photography are some general places to start! 

7. Find your mom village. Moms cannot do it all. Strive to find your support system in the new year. Whether it’s friends, family, or babysitters, find people who can help share the parenting burden with you both physically and emotionally! Find people you can truly count on to come alongside you in your motherhood journey. 

8. Create a gratitude journal. Staying thankful is something we can all aim for in the new year. As we exit the season of consumerism, it’s helpful to embrace what we have. Create a gratitude journal you can jot down a few sentences every day. At the end of the year, you can look back and see all that you’ve been blessed with. 

9. Focus on healthy habits instead of weight loss. Try not to set a goal weight, but instead focus on small habits that can make a big difference. Make little changes that will add up. Swap soda for sparkling water. Swap coffee for warm water with lemon. Swap binge watching Netflix to starting a nightly stretching routine. Swap fast food runs for meal prepping on the weekends. Small changes add up over time!

10. Declutter the house. Sometimes mess equals stress, so spend some time organizing your house and ridding yourself of anything you don’t need. Get rid of clothes that don’t fit right after having a baby. Give away toys your baby is too advanced for. Donate maternity clothes to a women’s shelter or a friend who is expecting her first baby. Give books to a local library or a nursing home. Out with the old, and in with the new in this upcoming year! 

11. Spend time exploring. Make a point to explore new places in 2022. Whether it’s finding a new hiking trail, renting a house in a different state, trying a new indoor kids playspace, or exploring local farmers markets, there are so many ways to spend time exploring the world around you. 

The new year is a great time to reflect on what you’d like to leave behind, and what you’d like to carry with you into the upcoming months. Don’t set yourself up for failure by creating goals that are too difficult to achieve. Small changes equal big progress in the end. Allow yourself to embrace success in the new year by trying some of these small changes!