New Year's Resolutions for Couples: Tips and Ideas for a Happy and Healthy Relationship
You might have just started dating someone you really like or maybe you’ve been married for 30 years, either way, no relationship is perfect and everyone has their ups and downs! It can be a real struggle to set improvement goals for the relationship because you or your partner might feel unsure about how to address certain issues or concerns. It can also be difficult to identify specific areas of the relationship that need work, and even more challenging to communicate those concerns to each other in a way that doesn’t come across as critical or confrontational.
Read our blog Communicating Wants & Needs: Communication Skills for Relationships.
Maybe you’re worrying about setting unrealistic expectations or putting unnecessary pressure on the relationship, especially during a busy and stressful time like the start of a new year.
There is never a wrong time to work on your relationship.
If you’re looking for guidance and support in finding effective and healthy ways to address issues in your relationship and want to set meaningful and achievable goals, contact us today! We are relationship experts who help couples just like you build a strong and healthy foundation so both individuals can thrive.
We offer in-person couples counseling in Murrieta, CA, in-person marriage counseling in Riverside, CA, and online couples therapy in California.
Goal setting for couples can actually help you make progress together. It’s part of what makes therapy work: that you are both united in working towards a shared goal.
Something we help our couples do in therapy is set achievable and measurable goals together. We have couples all the time who come in with goals like “We want to work on our conflict.” But how will they know when they’ve achieved that goal? Our therapists will help you transform that intention into a different type of goal, which might be something like When we are in conflict:
1) We will not interrupt each other.
2) We will take breaks when things get heated.
3) We will use our therapy tools to compromise and repair.
Now, it is so easy to look at our goal and know that we are making progress or not. We’ve created a simple set of yes/no questions to answer.
Did we interrupt each other in our last conflict?
Did we take a break when things got heated?
Did we use our tools for compromise and repair?
You might be thinking about new year’s resolutions like millions of other people. Maybe you’re considering joining a gym, starting a business, or starting just one habit. Have you considered setting some new year’s resolutions with your partner with the goal of becoming closer as a couple?
There are many reasons why it's important for couples to work on becoming closer. For one, a strong and healthy relationship can provide a solid foundation for both individuals in the relationship.
This can lead to greater happiness and fulfillment for both people.
In addition, being close with your partner can provide a sense of support and companionship, which can be especially important during difficult times.
One resolution that couples can make is to make more time for each other. In today's fast-paced world, it's easy for couples to get caught up in their own schedules and forget to prioritize their relationship. Making time for regular date nights, or even just a few minutes of daily conversation, can help to maintain a strong connection.
Another resolution that couples can make is to communicate more openly and honestly with each other. This means being willing to listen to each other's concerns and perspectives, and being open to discussing tough topics. By fostering open communication, couples can better understand each other and work together to overcome challenges.
In addition to spending more time together and communicating more openly, couples can also make a resolution to try new things together.
This can help to keep the relationship fresh and exciting, and can also provide opportunities for the couple to grow and learn together.
Whether it's trying a new hobby, traveling to a new destination, or trying a new restaurant, finding new experiences to share can help to bring couples closer together.
Overall, making new year's resolutions as a couple can be a great way to focus on strengthening your relationship and becoming closer in the coming year. By prioritizing each other and working together, couples can create a stronger and more fulfilling relationship.
Below you’ll find a list of 31 things you can do in your relationship. Start the new year off right by taking on the 31-day resolution challenge as a couple!
Learn something new together to expand your shared interests.
Plan a weekend getaway or a romantic vacation to spend some quality time together.
Have a fondue night at home, with different types of chocolate and fruits
Read a book together and have regular discussions about the ideas and themes in the book.
Go for regular walks or hikes together to get some exercise and enjoy nature.
Go to a flea market or thrift store and see what treasures you can find.
Make time for regular date nights to reconnect and spend quality time together by taking turns planning surprise date nights.
Write love letters to each other and express your feelings in a tangible way.
Have a fancy dinner at home, with candles and a fancy table setting.
Take a painting or drawing class together
Go stargazing in a nearby field or park.
Visit a museum or art gallery
Attend a concert or music festival
Volunteer together at a local organization or charity to give back to your community.
Go to couples counseling to work on any issues or challenges in your relationship.
Have a game night with friends
Take a road trip together and visit new places along the way.
Go on a picnic or have a special outdoor adventure together.
Take a dance class or try out a new form of dance together.
Visit a local farmer's market and cook a meal together using fresh ingredients.
Take a couples yoga class
Plan a day trip to a nearby city and explore new places together.
Take a cooking class or try out a new recipe together.
Take a couples massage class
Have a photo shoot together, either with a professional or by taking selfies.
Create a budget and plan for your future financial goals together.
Practice mindfulness and meditation together to reduce stress and improve your mental health.
Plan a special surprise for your partner to show them how much you care.
Have a DIY movie night at home, with homemade popcorn and snacks
Go to a karaoke bar and sing your hearts out
Have a spa night at home, with DIY face masks and relaxing baths.
By trying new things together and taking the time to connect and communicate, couples can deepen their relationship and start the new year off on a positive note. If you need help achieving your relationship goals, consider seeking couples counseling. Our relationship experts can help offer guidance and support to your relationship.
Have questions about couples counseling? Visit our FAQs page to find out more.
We offer online couples counseling in California and in-person marriage counseling services in Riverside, CA and in-person marriage therapy in Murrieta, CA!! It’s so important for you to find the right marriage counselor for you. Learn more about what’s unique about our couples therapists here.