A new year comes with a clean slate and 365 days to achieve new goals. Maybe you’ve tried the same resolutions year after year. Exercise, eat better and lose weight. Sound familiar?
It’s time for a new approach. This year, try incorporating a few family goals along with the usual list of self-improvements.
“Family goals are an important part of what keeps a family together,” says Lindsay Stormer, LSW, OCPS, ECMH, director of prevention and lifespan supports at Harbor of Toledo. “When we can engage in shared traditions and moments of pleasure, we are more likely to trust our family in times of stress. Working towards a goal, like keeping the house clean, can also remind everyone in your family that we all take care of each other and that each person in your family has an important job, no matter how small.”
We spoke with local experts to come up with some unique goals for 2026. If you are looking for ways to improve family life in the new year, here are a few ideas to consider.
Get organized
If you’ve got kids, you’ve got clutter. School papers, art supplies, toys and books. How do you keep on top of it all? We asked professional Jen Hill of Jen Hill Organizing for tips.
- Be specific: “Define exactly what success looks like so you can track progress and know when you’ve achieved your goal.”
- Write it down: “Document both your goal and why it matters to you. Keep it visible as a daily reminder when motivation is nowhere to be found.
- Make a plan: “Schedule dedicated time and decide specifics. How many items to declutter weekly, where donations go, when you’ll drop them off.”
- Start small: “Begin with just 15 minutes daily. Quick wins build momentum and keep you motivated.”
- Find accountability: “Partner with someone who’ll check in on your progress. It’s harder to quit when others are invested in your success.”
- Expect setbacks: “Missing a day doesn’t mean failure.Simply restart the next day and keep moving forward.”
Read more books
Have you binged on too many holiday shows? Are you in a reading slump? Maybe it’s time to get the family back into the reading habit. We asked Denise Phillips at Gathering Volumes for some suggestions.
- Set a reading goal: “I try to read a book a week, or 52 books a year. I moderate a Facebook Group where we track our reading for the year.”
- Try a book club: “My favorite book club meets at Earnest Brew Works each month and the author joins us as we discuss the book.”
- Pick a time: “For me, it is at night at bedtime. I know I will have 10 minutes and I commit to reading at that time. I try to get through at least a chapter, but I consider the task accomplished even if I only get one page read.”
- Read as a family: “My kids are teenagers now and we still enjoy reading together. I appreciate the quiet time with them, as well as the discussions we get to have about the books we are reading.”
- Try new genres: “I read a lot of young adult and middle grade titles each year and I have never regretted it. Just because the protagonist is decades younger than me doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate the story, the writing or the message, or that I won’t fall in love with the characters.”
Find Times to connect as a family
Our calendars fill up so quickly. School, work, sports, activities. How can we find time to sit down and connect with our family members? Lindsay Stormer, LSW, OCPS, ECMH at Harbor of Toledo offered some ideas.
“Reflect on the moments from your own childhood which inspired joy and connectedness. These moments, which may be something as simple as sharing the responsibility of making a meal together over music and conversation, can make all the difference in the life of your child.”
Tips for connecting as a family
- Create new routines and traditions. Decide on how often this tradition or ritual will be feasible and appropriate for your family.
- Ensure you log face-to-face time with your loved one every day.
- Lean into activities and events that matter most to you.
- Decline invitations that would overfill your schedule.
Holiday Pro-tip!
“The best advice around the holidays is to keep your heart generous but try to slow down and enjoy time with family. We cannot possibly attend every event or party, and that is okay,” Stormer said.
