Yes, I said New Year's Mom Resolutions, and that's precisely what you and I need. New Year's Resolutions to bring change where change needs to happen.
It's a new year and well that's what we do right? We vow to make a change and then we stay committed all year! Have you said that before or is it just little ‘ole me out here in my mom universe?
Haha, this year you and I can do it. I promise.
This year, I want to be the best version of myself. A less tired and more productive version of me.
But how do you get to that version, you ask?
I am happy to share with you the ten resolutions that I am focusing on this year.
Why I am here and who I am:
Hey mama, I am Trish— AKA Labor Nurse Mama. I am a labor and delivery nurse with over 15 years of high-risk OB experience. I am also a mama to 7 kids and have given birth to 6. This means I am quite familiar with the postpartum period and how to navigate it. I am the online birth class educator for Calm Labor Confident Birth and The VBAC Lab birth classes and the mama expert inside our Calm Mama Society, a pregnancy & postpartum membership community! I am passionate about your birth and motherhood journey! You can find me over on IG teaching over 230k mamas daily. I am passionate about your birth and motherhood journey!
We make a small commission from some of the links (you don’t pay any more for using our links); however some of the recommendations, we do not earn anything; we love ’em and want you to know about them. Click here for our full disclosure. Thank you!
New Year's Resolutions for Moms # 1:
Slow down
Slowing down is an essential goal for everyone and not just moms.
We all need to slow down and enjoy life a little more. If you are always rushing to and from places, you will miss the little blessings being a mom has to offer.
I remember my mom saying to me, laundry will always be waiting, but your children won't be little forever. Moms, take note, your children will not stay small, and they won't always have time for you. Right now you are the center of their universe, but that will change.
I am a mother of a toddler, teens, and adult children. As an older mom, this time around, I have to face the regrets from the first set of children. I was so young and busy when my boys were young. I missed a lot because of being on the go all the time.
I didn't realize that all those things that captured my attention back then would not be relevant to me now. With Greyson, I am intentionally seeking his heart through quality time.
New Year's Resolutions for Moms # 2:
Learn to Say No
You have to learn to say no. You can't do everything for everyone.
Sometimes good things are not always good for you. Serving at church, volunteering on the PTA, and helping with events all are fantastic things, but if they are consuming your time, try to say no.
Budget your time wisely for the best return. If your primary goal as a mom is raising healthy and happy children who become stable adults, then figure out what's going to accomplish your goal.
I'm not saying you shouldn't do those things, however, don't do all those things. Be picky and be wise.
New Year's Resolutions for Moms # 3:
Be More Patient
Take time to stop and listen to your children and each other.
The Bible says to be quick to listen and slow to speak. I genuinely believe this is a great tool to learn patience.
If you are anything like me, you are already freaking out in your head, based on what you think was said, before your child or spouse is ever done speaking.
Stop. Don't react. Learn to respond instead.
I need to slow my brain down and listen, not assume. Practicing Goal number one and Number two will also lead to goal number three.
Saying yes to everything and everyone will only create a constant rush in the home and a less patient parent.
I am a Christian and honestly believe in the power of God's word. * * We included (in our Free Download – New Year Mom Resolutions bundle) a Sheet of Verses about patience for you to commit to memory. When you want to freak out and yell, as we all do, replace those thoughts with a verse about patience. I promise it works.
New Year's Resolutions for Moms # 4:
Be More Intentional
You need to be more Intentional in all things. Be intentional with your husband, with your time, with each child individually and be more deliberate as a family.
These are my personal “Be more intentional” Goals for 2020 (edited for 2020
Greyson (toddler): Spend 20-30 every day doing what he loves to do (Nothing with a screen) Ie. Puzzles, games, playing with his superheroes. Whatever he loves! Read at least two books before nap and bedtime, no matter how rushed I feel. Listen to him when he speaks.
Lani (teen): Sit and listen to her when she talks to me (this is a goal for me with everyone!). Be more fun with her and laugh more. Have coffee dates with her two times a month. Be willing to listen to boy bands without smart remarks on my part.
Family: Make Monday family game night consistently. Once a month do something new as a family. Be willing to be spontaneous.
New Year's Resolutions for Moms# 5:
Do new Things
Do you find yourself doing the same ole thing on repeat? Let's create some bucket lists this year and do some new and exciting things.
2018 was that year for me. I have always dreamt of having a blog but was scared to try. I doubted myself and my ability to be “techy” enough to do it. But I was ready to slay my New Year's Resolutions and I did it anyway!
However, I am so glad I jumped in and did this thing. It has been life-changing. Not only has this blog (and shop) given me a creative outlet to share what I love most, labor and delivery, but also has blessed us in so many ways.
Because of the blog, I was able to work less in 2019.
If you are interested in starting a blog, check out Bluehost for your hosting. It's only $3 a month which is pretty easy to do. Do not start on a small platform. Start with a self-hosted one like Bluehost. Believe in your blog from the beginning. It's a lot of work, but so satisfying.
Create your bucket list and post it on the fridge for everyone to see. Maybe even create a space or two for your kids to add to the list. It can be a bucket list for the family or just for you.
No matter what you do, do something new!
Related post: Pinterest Strategies for New Bloggers
Resolutions for Moms # 6:
Bless others
As a family, commit to at least 19 random acts of kindness in 2019. If your family starts this habit, then everyone will be looking outward to find others who are in need.
Maybe pay a bill for a single mom. Do yardwork for a neighbor. Take a meal to an older adult. Pay for someone's meal at a restaurant.
Be sure to allow the kids to help find the people in need of blessings. Teach them to be on the lookout. This will transform them into someone who notices needs in others and isn't only focused on themselves.
Resolutions for Moms# 7:
Ditch the phone
OK, this may sting for everyone involved, but it's a must. Lay down the device and walk away like your life is threatened.
Girl, you must spend time away from Instagram and Facebook. I know, it's so much fun to stalk people innocently, but the most critical people are right there in front of you.
Create device free zones and be vigilant. For instance, dinnertime!
My new slogan in our home during dinner is, “No Phone Zone.” Getting off the phone/electronic devices is one of the most important New Year's Resolutions for Moms.
Put a stylish bowl or basket on the counter in the kitchen for everyone to put their device into during dinner. All should be on silence so that they can't intrude on dinnertime.
If the thought of being device-free causes a little panic in your brain, then you for sure need to do it.
Just recently I was waiting for my girls and I took my laptop into Chipotle to work on my current post.
At the table next to me was a family of four and I kid you not, they ate their dinner, refilled their drinks, and sat for like 15 minutes on their phones. The mom didn't look up from her phone one time. Not once. She had her phone in her left hand and ate with her right. I was stunned.
Some of my most treasured memories as a kid were from family meals.
If you need help with meal plans check out the Five Dollar Meal plan. I am in my second month, and it's been beneficial, although I need to be more committed.
Resolutions for Moms# 8:
Protect Dinner time
Dinner time can be the most profitable time of day for a family. Everyone is relaxed and together. Mommas (Daddys) use this time to your advantage to seek the hearts of your children. Ask purposeful questions and share stories. Our family has a tradition of sharing our best and the worst of the day at dinnertime. We start with the youngest and work our way through our kids all the way to us, the parents. We ask two questions and a prayer request.
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- What was the best thing about today?
- What was the worst thing today?
- How can we pray for you?
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These simple questions have been consistent through a lot of change in our family dynamics. We have moved several times and had two sons become adults and move out. Start a dinnertime family tradition now!!
Dinner time is a beautiful time to slow down and be a family. Remember to make it a device-free zone. This rule applies to the parents as well!
Resolutions for Moms # 9:
Be wise with Finances
Do you make a lot of financial purchases in the home? Yeah, me too. I am the gatekeeper of the wallet, so to say. Let's just say; I have been convicted lately of my tendency to impulse buy.
Don’t be alarmed, This Will Be The Year Your Family Budget Will Not Fail
Insanely Simple Ways to Start a Family Savings Plan
I am determined this year to stop this bad habit. If you feel the same way, then take note of a few ideas I am planning to save money for our family.
- Creating a budget and being faithful.
- No impulse buys, if I didn't go to the store for it, I won't get it. If I think it's a fantastic deal, then I will wait for 2 hours and go back. If I just want it, then I have to wait two days. I will write the amount in a small notebook that I have in my purse. It's 3 inches by 5 inches ish. At the end of the week, I can check and see how much money I potentially wasted and will contribute that to paying off debt. Once my debts are paid off, my “impulse fund” will go to savings.
- Starbucks only once a month, no matter what the inner me says to me, I am committed.
- Use Ebates faithfully. I have only used it a few times and already have $19 cash rebates. That's pretty cool. Here's a link you can use to sign up, and you will get $10. Sign up, once you spend $25 through an Ebates store (Think Target, JC Penney, Best Buy, Macy's, Old Navy, Priceline….)you get $10 for free. You can then share your link and make money if people sign up. Tip: Download the browser button, and it will alert you when you are on a site that you can earn cashback if you purchase through Ebates. This has been a game-changer for me.
- You should also check out Honey App. (I wrote more about Honey App here) I also have the browser extension for Honey on my laptop. It's a neat system that checks for billions of coupon codes and discount codes and applies them to your cart. (even on Amazon)
- I have also just started checking out Swagbucks, but not too sure yet about that one. However, Ebates isn't available through all stores. I plan to check Ebates first then check Swagbucks.
- Snowball Debt payoff plan. Mike and I want to buy another house in the spring. We have been renting for four years, and we are sick of it. Rent is high compared to a mortgage! We both love Nashville and don't plan to leave anytime soon. I genuinely want to have no credit card debt when we move into our new home. GOALS PEOPLE! **I also included a debt payoff sheet for you to join me in this venture. (Let's be friends and encourage one another!)
- Buying used before new on most things. I love the app Offer up. If you haven't tried it, you should now. It's like a garage sale online. I love it. I love to redo furniture and make old look new. So this is my thing!
- Try my best to go back to once a month grocery shopping and meal planning like a boss. I'm not making promises here, but I am planning to try. I got this Freezer meal plan thing (as part of a homemaking bundle I bought), and it seems pretty doable. I am also more committed to my $5 meal plan subscription I purchased. Meal plans are delivered weekly to your email. To save weekly on groceries, you should undoubtedly shop at Aldi if you have one near you. It's incredible how much you can save.
- Check all our household bills for ways to save. Yesterday, I called my insurance agent, and we switched insurance companies. We combined our renter's insurance and our automobile insurance for a savings of over sixty dollars a month. Whoo Hoo! I plan to call Verizon, DirectTV (Edited: we canceled Directtv), and Comcast this week.
Resolutions for Moms #10:
Nurture Yourself
Ok girl, I know this one is a tough one for mothers everywhere. We are so busy (refer to new year resolutions # 1 and #2) that we forget to take care of ourselves.
You must spend some time on you so that you can be the best wife and mom possible. It's near impossible to be our best if we are lacking sleep, lacking laughter, or lacking nutrients. Remember your spirit and your body need attention.
Ideas for self-care:
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- Regular check-ups
- Exercise
- Eat healthily
- Hang out with girlfriends
- Date nights
- Consistent sleep schedule
- Read a book
- Go for a walk
- See a movie
- Find a creative outlet (for me the blog and Instagram, where I educate women about birth)
- Get your nails done
- Go and have a massage
Read This ASAP: Speaking of time alone, give yourself some time alone at night by helping your little one learn to soothe themselves to sleep. Our Asa mastered it in less than a week.
I could go on and on, but you get the drift! My challenge to you is to do something just for you THIS WEEK! If your spouse isn't supportive, ask a friend to watch your kids and go out and have some time alone.
SERIOUSLY, I'm talking to you. Be sure to comment and let me know your New Year's Resolutions for Moms!
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