New Year's Resolutions for Families
Each year, millions of Americans tackle the annual ritual of making New Year’s resolutions. Some will succeed, some will stumble. What is the secret to New Year’s resolution success? Not going it alone!
Making a commitment to a healthier lifestyle is more important now than ever. Making this commitment together as a family or with supportive group greatly improves success.
This year, we are calling on all families to make a commitment to their family as they build their New Year’s resolutions.
Did You Know?
Studies confirm again and again the vital role that interaction and connectedness play in the long-term health and well-being of individual family members. As families struggle to balance work, family and health, the need to connect is as strong today as ever before.
Supporting data may be alarming, but turning the tides is possible:
- Our nation is facing a dramatic lifestyle health crisis. Sixty million adults—about 30 percent of the U.S. adult population—and 9 million children are obese or overweight; 16 percent of our children have Type II diabetes. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, the current generation of American children could be the first to lead shorter lives than their parents.
- Small changes can make a major impact. The CDC found that participating in moderate physical activity, such as walking for 30 minutes at least five times a week, substantially lowered the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, colon cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity.
- Introducing healthy habits early can have a lifetime benefit. Children who develop healthy exercise and eating habits while they are young are more likely to continue to lead healthy lifestyles through adulthood.
Strong Family = Healthy Family
While current health statistics clearly illustrate ‘why’ it is so important for kids and adults alike to lead healthier lifestyles, at the YMCA, we believe strong families play a critical role in ‘how’ to make it happen.
Look at the facts:
- Participating in family rituals that foster togetherness and communication is strongly linked to adolescent mental health.
- Teens who eat with their families most days have better grades and less depression and substance abuse than kids who frequently eat on their own.
- University studies show that young kids and teens whom eat regularly with their families eat more fruits, vegetables, fiber and whole grains and consume less soda and snack food.
- A 2004 YMCA of the USA study found that parents who received support from community organizations such as YMCAs reported positive experiences for their children, saying the programs enabled their children to engage with other kids, provided positive influence and offered role models.
Start making your New Year’s resolutions together as a family now!
Setting goals that balance, nurture and strengthen spirit, mind and body are key to building strong and healthy families.
As you begin making New Year’s resolutions with your family, be sure to check out the following links for specific New Year’s resolutions ideas for you and your family and other tips for success:
- Unique and Fun Family New Year’s Resolution Ideas
- Tips for Family New Year’s Resolution Success
- Stanford Health and Lifestyle Assessment: A Tool for Understanding Your Current Health Status
- Building Family New Year’s Resolutions: Fun Brainstorm Worksheet (PDF)
More Information on Health and Wellness
- Action for Healthy Kids
- Active Living by Design
- America Cancer Society
- America On the Move
- American Academy of Pediatrics
- American Diabetes Association
- American Dietetic Association
- American Heart Association
- American Public Health Association
- Association for Community Health Improvement
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Lean Plate Club
- National Association for Sport and Physical Education
- National Association of Chronic Disease Directors
- National Recreation and Park Association
- Nutrition.gov
- President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports
- Smart Spot