2020 wasn’t exactly a banner year, and 2021 still has its share of difficulties ahead. However, despite COVID-19 and all of the chaos it has unleashed, there are some silver linings to be found. One of those has been spending more time with family, as many parents adjusted to working from home and kids adapted to distance learning. With that in mind, why not make some family resolutions for 2021? After all, we’re all in this together!
Family Resolution Ideas for 2021
Focus on quality time, not just quantity.
Being stuck at home with nowhere to go certainly has improved the quantity of family time most people are spending… But what about the quality of that family time? It can be pretty lonely even with lots of people under one roof if all of those people are hiding away in their rooms or glued to their phones. Consider having a “screen free” day once a week, or even having screen free hours at a certain time each day. Eat dinner together at the table, ask questions about each other’s days, play a board game, or do a craft. Once your family gets in the habit of spending “unplugged” time together, they’ll start looking forward to it. As simple as they may be, those are the moments when you and your kids will make lifelong memories.
Exercise every day. (Or close to it.)
It’s easy to be sedentary, especially when your normal routine is disrupted. COVID has certainly added to the problem by keeping people out of gyms and group fitness classes. But even if you can’t do your normal fitness routine, you can still incorporate movement into your daily life! There are lots of ways for you and your family to get more active together, from taking a daily walk after lunch or dinner, to playing games in your yard, to roller skating!
Make time for fun.
Did you know that having fun is actually important to your health and wellbeing? In today’s fast-paced culture, you’ll often hear the phrase “Work hard, play hard,” but according to researchers, Americans are doing a lot of hard work and not enough play.
In 2019, American workers forfeited 236 million vacation days due to “use it or lose it” paid time off rules. The value of those lost benefits equals $65.5 billion! That’s a whole lot of vacation time left on the table, and some vital rest and relaxation time that could help prevent burnout and stress. So, what can you do to add more fun to your life? Schedule it! Here are some examples to get your creative juices flowing and your calendar filled with fun.
- Family Fun Fridays
- Date Night
- Taco Tuesday
- Board Game Night
- Movie Night