New Year's Resolutions for the Family

By Gloria Sanchez, Adams County Site Coordinator

As we step into 2018, many of us use this time as an opportunity to “start fresh” or on a “clean slate,” setting goals that we wish to accomplish in the new year.  Often times these New Year’s resolutions are set around better finances, health and weight management, personal accomplishments, and educational milestones.  However, rarely goals are set around bettering and strengthening relationships with family and friends.

So, how do we set new goals to make our relationships stronger in the New Year?

In a research study of 2,000 people conducted by Family & Children’s Services of Minnesota, participants shared their thoughts and views of what their family did well.  The researchers concluded that there were nine important factors to keeping a family strong.  Read over the following nine factors and see if any of them might be positive to implement in your own family this new year.

Families agreed that communication was key to staying connected. Ideas for this included setting aside a regular time to talk free of technology, leaving notes for each other, and designating a “safe zone” or space to resolve conflicts in a peaceful manner. 

Physical, emotional, and financial health were also seen as important.  Families reported staying physically healthy by exercising and staying active as a family, including things like bike rides, walking, and raking yards together.  The stayed emotionally healthy by expressing their feelings, being mindful, and forgiving each other.  Financial welfare was maintained by budgeting, planning, and talking about finances. 

Another important piece mentioned was spending time together. Families did this by preparing or eating meals together, reading to each other, or creating family time once a week.   

Spirituality was the fourth strongest factor for strong and cohesive families.  This was defined and understood in various ways including talking about and practicing beliefs, traditions, faith, charity, sacrifice, hope, and love. 

Having a strong support system, respecting each other, and having a sense of unity were also important factors for keeping a family strong.  Support was understood by these families as listening, understanding, asking questions, showing affection, giving hugs, cooperating, sharing responsibilities, being honest, saying “I love you”.  Respect was practiced by recognizing each family member’s strengths, believing in and accepting each other, showing appreciation, following rules, setting boundaries, and being patient, gentle and honest.  The sense of unity meant pulling together and rallying around each other, especially in times of need.

Celebrating cultural traditions that are unique to each family also creates strength.  Families build this strength by preserving their identity, sharing stories, teaching traditions, and passing on their cultural heritage. 

The final strength is having an extended sense of “family.”  For many, “family” went far beyond those living within their home, rather extending to include blood relatives, in-laws, close friends, and neighbors. As an extended family, they keep each other informed of important events, build circles of support, love, encouragement, and care, provide a space for members to seek and trust advice from others.

This study provides a great deal of great information about building and maintaining a strong family.  Which ones do you feel like you most connect with? Are there any that you already do well?  Which ones might be great to add to your family’s New Year’s goals for 2018?

For more information about this article, go to www.everyfamilymatters.org

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