A new year is approaching, whether you are ready or not. The history of making New Year’s Resolutions dates back to ancient Rome when then Emperor Julius Cesar introduced a calendar with the beginning, the first date of the calendar was January 1st. In light of the new calendar, and the start of the new year, the Romans would celebrate the new year by making promises of good behaviors in the new year. The New Year became the time when knights of the middle ages would renew their vows of chivalry and commitment to knighthood values.
While modern New Years’ traditions don’t call for vows of chivalry and knightly values, it is still customary to make personal goals and promises. Truly making a New Years’ resolution isn’t as easy as saying it out loud – saying it is the easy part. For a successful New Years’ resolution that goes from a resolution to reality, you need a practical plan that still includes a stretch goal – pushing yourself. Here are some realistic resolutions that your military family can make a reality.
Saving Money – for the PCS
Whether you are PCS this year or next, the next move is always on the military family’s mind. Saving money early for the military move allows for smaller amounts of money to be budgeted out for a longer period of time. If you are moving in 6 or 12 months, start the budgeting in the new year to avoid the surprise of big expenses at move time. Another way to plan ahead of the PCS is to start gathering boxes and packing material, especially if you are moving. When taking down holiday decorations, get them ready for the PCS so you aren’t doing that when time is limited during the PCS prep time. Looking for more ways to save and prepare for the move, check out this article here.
Healthy Eating on a Budget
A common New Year’s resolution is to eat healthier. Eating on a budget often feels like an insurmountable task. The prep work for eating healthy on a budget is research. First, determine what you want to start preparing. Whether it is borrowing a healthy cookbook from the library, or investing in purchasing one, plan out what you will eat. There are also resources on workout websites like BeachBody and ever popular-Peloton. Once you have found what you will cook, the next level of research starts on a grocery trip to determine what it would cost for fresh vegetables, fruit, oatmeal, plant-based pasta, low-sugar pasta sauces. Make sure to check labels for the sodium and sugar content as these added ingredients can pack on extra calories. The other key to healthy eating is meal prep. Take time once or twice a month to prepare the recipes for instant pot, crockpot, or air fryer (whichever device you have – no need to buy a new one). This way you can toss them in your device in the morning for dinner that night. Meal prep for lunch is key as well – making sure to keep portion sizes in mind.
Prepare for Deployment
Deployment is not easy. It is a time apart from a family member and is a change in routine. If a deployment is in store for your family in the new year, a goal to approach the deployment with positivity is a worthy resolution. One way to approach deployment with positivity is making a monthly goal for the family at home. Perhaps plan a monthly local outing to provide something to look forward to and countdown the time apart. It is difficult to nail down FaceTime dates with unknown schedules of deployment, so make achievable goals of connecting through letters and emails.
Rock the Care Packages
Care packages are a great way to connect with a deployed loved one or friends and family that are far away. As a way to stay connected, make a goal of making monthly care packages. Plan out monthly themes. If you are looking for ideas, check out Spousely for care package ideas and sticker kits to add pizazz to a care package. Plan outings to gather items to send in the care packages. Send personal and local items in the care packages. If you hit a snag in planning, check out these ideas.
Learn a New Skill or Hobby
Check out your military installation’s hobby shop to grow your auto skills. If there is a craft shop on your base, check out their schedule for classes in pottery, stained glass, or painting to learn a new skill. If your base doesn’t offer any of these options, check out in town for local businesses that offer classes. You can do this as a family for bonding, or individually for some personal time. If the new year is bringing a deployment, learning a new hobby monthly is a great way to countdown to homecoming as a family left behind.
The key with New Year’s Resolutions is planning achievable goals. Plan out how to achieve your resolutions, and you will be well set for the year. What will be your New Years Resolution this year?
