Make your resolutions as a couple

A lot of people don’t like resolutions because they don’t stick with them. But if you make your resolutions together as a couple, you have a greater chance of making them last.

Make your resolutions as a couple

It’s that time of year already. The turkey and dressing of Thanksgiving and Christmas is already a thing of the past. That means it’s time to get started on those New Year’s resolutions. Many people don’t even like the word “resolution” because it is typically something we pinky promise to do in January and give up on by February or March. But when you think about it, resolutions are just goals, hopes, and aspirations. And that’s something we should all always have. Making a resolution just means you’re determined to do something. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. But the reason most people don’t turn their resolutions into permanent changes is because they don’t have a strong support system to help them stay motivated throughout the year. But if you make your resolutions together as a couple, you have a greater chance of making them last.

Make your own goals first. It is important for you to be reflective by yourself first and examine where you would like to see yourself next year. In order to be a better partner, you have to be the best version of yourself possible. Work on self improvement and your relationship will benefit. When setting your goals, be sure to cover all the bases – financial, spiritual, physical, professional, etc. – and be sure to be specific. Having vague goals makes it difficult for you to follow up with yourself and assess whether or not you’ve completed it. “Work out more” is okay, but “work out three to five times a week” is much better. When you are specific, you can keep track of your progress and really hold yourself accountable.

Share with your significant other. Once you’ve set your personal goals for the new year, it is important to share them with your sweet-honey-love-muffin so that they can make sure your goals are both challenging and attainable. They should know you well enough by now to know whether or not you are being realistic with what you can accomplish. You may want to keep your goals private in case you don’t actually reach them, but you should trust your partner with this information. If you reach your goal, they’ll be your biggest cheerleader. And if you don’t, they’ll still love and support you!

Hold each other accountable. Once you have your s/o’s goals, it is then your responsibility to hold them accountable and be supportive with them in this journey.  There’s nothing wrong with motivating or even pushing your partner towards the greatness they desire. Just don’t push too hard. Don’t nag and annoy them. They won’t want to share with you in the future if you do it in a mean or rude way. But it is more than okay to be the spiritual and emotional support they need in order to reach their goals. 

Make relationship goals. Think about goals you can set to improve your relationship in this new year. More date nights? Better communication? Whatever it is you feel your relationship is lacking or could use some improvement in, focus on that and work towards that goal. Relationships require work. You should be constantly changing, improving, and evolving as individuals and the same is true for the relationship.

What do you think? Is it a good idea to set goals/resolutions as a couple?