5 Unconventional New Year Resolutions

We have never met someone that hasn’t at least thought of a New Year resolution. Whether it’s wishful thinking or a serious resolution, less than 8% of people actually stick to their original goal. Maybe it’s due to a lack of time management, unrealistic goals or something else. Instead of going with the mundane, why not mix it up a bit? Here are our top 5 suggestions for alternative, unusual, and what would be deemed unconventional New Year resolutions.

1 – Give More

Our personal favorite. Give more than you gave last year. Whether to you that means more time, resources, or money. Maybe even a combination of all three. Many resolutions are inward focused but they certainly don’t need to be. This upcoming year, why not make a resolution that focuses more on others. Plan to volunteer, help a family in need, mentor someone and/or give more to charities.

Year after year this is one of our goals. We want to give more of ourselves than what we did the previous year.

2 – Uninterrupted Family Time

Time spent with the ones you love in this modern day look different than it may have been back then. Life operates at a faster pace, demands are ever present, and phones are a digital decoy to the things we should be paying closer attention to. How do we slow down and move beyond family time consisting of traveling around to sporting or extracurricular events after a long day of work and school? It is important to look at what your motives are behind improving family time. Are you looking at the bigger picture? Do you want to simply be with your spouse or children, or do you want to know your spouse and children better. Do you desire to go deeper relationally with those closest to you? Uninterrupted family time is essential to family health and growth. Taking the time to be home together, phones on mute, with no plans other than to do things together is vital. Plan a weekly game night, a dinner at home together, engage in devotionals together as a family on a routine basis. Ensure that this uninterrupted time is on the family calendar to show your spouse and children that you are being intentional about drawing close together as a family.

3 – Church Attendance

Church attendance does not determine your salvation, but it is essential to your walk as a Christian. The Bible is clear that we should not neglect gathering with fellow believers. In gathering, we are supported, we are challenged, and we are held accountable. We have been through seasons in our lives where having church to attend made a huge difference. The friends and support we have with our church is a huge component of our lives. We felt this spiritual goal was necessary to include. It is very simple in nature, but a revolutionary step for yourself and your family toward growing closer to Jesus.

Church Goer

If you go to church, awesome! Try to find ways where you can serve. God has made you with such unique abilities and characteristics. Use them to bring God glory! Challenge yourself to get active. Start a men’s/women’s group, a mom’s group, work with children/teens, play that instrument you are versed in for worship, greet others with your warm smile, or serve in your church’s hospitality café. No matter how small, or how big, God sees your servant’s heart and will equip you to do everything that He has called you to.

Non-Church Goer

For the individual who refers to himself as a Christian, or anything within that denomination, find a church that you can get plugged into. The Bible says in Hebrews 10:25 that we shouldn’t forsake the assembling together. The Bible alludes to us all as part of the body of Christ, each with a specific role and calling for the Church. It is, in essence, hurting the body of Christ when you, as a Christian, are not intentionally gathering with fellow believers in the spirit of Christ. There is a negative, cumulative effect of not attending church, especially when raising a family. Your children need to see you going to church, engaging in church, and they need to be surrounded by teachers and friends who will reinforce what you are aiming to teach at home. Without it, you raise children who equate church attendance to a holiday, a religious “tradition”(which is very deceptive), or they fall away from what you have tried to raise them in because it never was a significant part or priority of their life.

4 – Penny Pinch

Finding extra ways to pinch more money out of your budget each month can be a creative venture. The following ideas could help your increase your margins, giving you the ability to give, invest, save, or pay expenses a little easier per month. Here is our list of penny pinching ideas:

• Clean/wash your own car instead of paying for the car wash.
• Workout at home and cancel your gym membership.
• Don’t eat out as often. Cook more meals at home.
• Cancel TV or streaming services (most families seem to have more than one).
• Walmart Plus. It costs twelve dollars a month for Walmart’s grocery home delivery service. The app allows you to be more efficient with your grocery shopping, time and gas. As a shopper, you are able to see what things cost down to the ounce, allowing you to make smarter decisions when it comes to comparing items and picking the best deal (We highly recommend it).
• Evaluate your homes energy efficiency. Look for ways to improve it. It could help save you a substantial amount per month on your heating/cooling bill.
• DIY home and vehicle maintenance.
• Energy conservation. Turn off the TV when not being used, convert bulbs to LED, utilize much of daylight to light your home, do not leave the car running, keep the temperature of the house as consistent as possible. Unplug unnecessary items that continue to draw power.
• Cut back on home care services if you’re physically able to. Things like cleaning, landscaping, and snow removal services. Cleaning services are great, but cancel it and attempt it on your own. Get the family involved to help you achieve a clean and organized space.
• Avoid impulsive spending. Easier said then done! When you are intentional about what you are spending your money on and why, you spend less. Talk yourself out of a purchase that is not necessary.
• Utilize receipt reward apps like Fetch Rewards, Ibotta, and Receipt Hog.
• Utilize shopping cashback apps like Rakuten.
• Buy discounted gift cards through Raise.
• Save on gas by using GetUpside.

5 – Inform Yourself Outside The News

Become your own analyst. Don’t take what you read online and see on the news as unbiased truth. There is a lot of half truth statements and quotes that get circulated around the internet and on the news all the time. It’s especially important knowing what’s going on in your state, your city/town, and your kids schools. We’re not suggesting to be consumed in everything but rather don’t be ignorant to what’s going on. Make this your resolution if you feel that you should be more informed on what is happening in our culture, school system, and government today.

Wrap It Up

That’s our list of unconventional and random goals that collectively we thought would be of benefit to people looking to change their paths and do something different. Whether it’s making your money go further, growing spiritually, or spending more quality time with the ones you love most, we hope these resolutions inspire you in a different direction. With a little bit of planning and work, these goals have the ability to be quite successful in the year ahead.