Whether you find yourself counting down the seconds like a giddy child on New Year’s Eve or you could care less about a numeric date change, fresh starts are always good. Beginning a new year allows time to reflect on our progress, and our mishaps (let’s call ‘em growth areas) and all the ups and downs of 2021. If you have a resolution draft going, or you’re thinking about making a  list for the first time, consider adding these to the mix, for a more abundant and empowered 2022.

Resolution #1: Make A Personal Growth Plan

Moms naturally put others before ourselves. The needs of our kids, our partners, our aging parents, etc. often take precedence in daily life, and we end up placing our plans, dreams and ambitions on the backburner. This might be okay for a season, but it’s important to reconnect with ourselves and make sure we aren’t ignoring passions and goals we had before kids. What do we always wish we had time for? What are we disappointed for not accomplishing yet? How about pursuing that master’s degree we said we’d start when the kids started school? Or joining the fitness class we’ve been putting off for a decade? Take some time to really think about what you’d love to do for yourself, then figure out how this can become a reality in the short or long term.

Resolution #2: Strive To Be A Better Spouse

Anyone hitched for more than a day knows how hard marriage can be. The distractions, pressures, and overall busyness of life can very easily weaken and harm our relationship if we don’t invest the care it deserves. Next to God, our spouse should be our number one priority (even before kids) so this resolution is a vital component towards experiencing an amazing 2022.  List all of the aspects of your marriage you’d like to improve or feel better about. Resist the temptation to write a Congressional bill outlining all the ways your hubs should up his game, and just focus on what you could to improve the quality of your relationship.

Do you want more connection and quality time? Commit to one date night every week. If you want more spiritual connection, resolve to pray together for a few minutes each morning. Have you been talking about seeing a counselor for like a decade now? Make this the year.

Resolution #3: Resolve To Spend 15 Minutes of Quiet Time With The Lord

Yeah yeah yeah.  We all know we should spend time in prayer and the Word daily for a more peaceful, productive day but when the baby wakes up at 5 am teething stillllll, this can feel quite impossible. Yet how many challenging ventures or activities have we accomplished with the right motivation? I ate cabbage soup for two weeks straight to lose weight before vacation last year…. and I hate vegetables. And soup.

It can be difficult to designate quiet time with every day when you barely have time to eat, but it truly makes all the difference in our day. When we center our spirts on what matters, feeling the tangible love of God and receiving much needed guidance for what lies ahead, we are simply better people. Better mothers, better wives, better colleagues and a MUCH better drivers (been known to rage).  Setting a daily reminder on your phone can help!

Resolution #4: Pick One Bad Habit. And Slay It.

Or resolve towards that good habit you’ve been talking about for fifteen years. Whether it’s cutting down on wine or sugar, or ditching that social media platform distracting you from life, think about what you most want to stop/start doing, and then make a plan. What can you do to replace/distract/reward yourself when temptation kicks in? Share your resolution with a friend to help keep you accountable. Plaster sticky notes with motivational scriptures and reminders around the house. Create your goals in monthly increments, if possible, to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Then make a list or vision board of all the “why’s” and benefits you’ll experience after giving up the bad habit or starting the good one. Most importantly, don’t go it alone. Rely on God, praying for daily strength and power. It makes all the difference.

Resolution #5: Pick A Year Verse

As the new year approaches, spend some time in prayer and reflection, asking God for direction and inspiration on the decisions you’ll make and the paths you’ll venture on in 2022. Ask Him to close and open the right doors and help you decide how handle your time, energy, passions. Then pick a year verse from the Bible that most reflects what you hear. Maybe screen save the verse or frame it in your office. Last year was mine was Isaiah 43:18…

“Don’t remember the prior things;
don’t ponder ancient history.
 Look! I’m doing a new thing;
now it sprouts up; don’t you recognize it?
I’m making a way in the desert,
paths in the wilderness.”

God makes all things new. We should honor what we accomplished, and what God has blessed us with in 2021, forget last year’s shortcomings and mistakes, as we set our sights ahead.

Happy New Year and cheers to an amazing 2022!

For more on kicking bad habits read here.

Check out these family friendly New Year’s Eve party ideas here!