Resetting Together: How My Family Welcomes the New Year with Intention
A look at how one family starts the New Year with meaningful ways to reset. A gentle reminder that small rituals rooted in gratitude and togetherness can shape a home—and a year—with purpose.
Dec 18, 2025
Each January, when the last of the holiday decorations are packed away and the house is back in shape, I feel the year beginning in earnest. With three children Margaux, 9; Jack, 8; and Scarlett, 4 this moment has become an important part of our family rhythm. It's when we ease into a reset that helps us enter the new year with clarity and purpose.
As part of our reset we take stock of our routines, refresh the spaces where we spend our time, and make small choices that help us feel more connected to one another. The kids settle back into the activities they love, and I guide us toward habits that bring a sense of structure to our days. It's a return to ourselves and a way of marking the start of the year by creating room for the feeling that our home is aligned with the life we want to build together.
How we create our family reset
For our family, the reset begins at the kitchen table. I gather the kids and we talk about what made us feel good last year and what we want to strengthen moving forward. These conversations are always honest and sweet.
Sometimes the kids share ideas about helping more around the house or spending extra time outside. Other times they suggest goals that warm my heart, like finding new ways to be kind, helping those in need, or reaching out to relatives we have not seen in a while.
I want my children to understand that reflection is not only for adults. Even at their ages, they can learn how to pause, check in with themselves, and shape their own habits. The ability to look back and adjust is a powerful tool for their continued growth. I try to show them that resets can feel joyful and full of possibility.
Implement a new year reset for your family:
- Choose a familiar ritual space
Have the conversation in a place that already feels safe and routine, like the kitchen table or during a shared meal. A consistent setting helps kids feel comfortable and makes reflection feel natural. - Ask open questions and listen
Encourage everyone to share what felt good and what they want to work on next. Let kids guide the conversation and focus on listening without correcting or rushing their ideas. - Keep it hopeful and positive
Frame reflection as a chance to grow, not to fix mistakes. Celebrate goals around kindness, connection, and effort so kids see reflection as empowering and joyful.
Embracing healthy habits together
The New Year is also when I help the kids reconnect with healthy routines. We refresh our pantry with colorful fruits, easy snacks, and ingredients that encourage creativity in the kitchen. Healthy eating becomes a family effort. Margaux proudly chops vegetables. Jack searches for new fruits at the store. Scarlett loves adding ingredients to our smoothies.
I want them to feel excited about taking care of their bodies. These little habits help them understand how good it feels to choose foods and activities that make them feel energized and strong.
How you can make healthy choices part of your family new year ritual:
- Make healthy routines a shared reset
Use the New Year or any fresh start to revisit routines together. Framing healthy habits as a family effort helps kids feel included and motivated, not singled out. - Involve kids in food choices and prep
Let children help shop, wash, chop, or mix. When they participate, healthy eating feels fun and creative, and they are more likely to feel proud of what they make. - Focus on how healthy choices feel
Talk about energy, strength, and feeling good rather than rules or restrictions. Helping kids connect food and activity to how their bodies feel builds positive, lasting habits.
Building and nurturing relationships
Human connection is also at the center of our New Year reset. I see this season as a chance to strengthen the relationships that support our family. One of my favorite ways to do this is by scheduling regular FaceTime calls with grandparents and relatives who live far away. These calls give my children a sense of belonging and help them stay close to the people who love them.
I also teach the kids to show appreciation for the people in our lives who make a difference. We talk about teachers, coaches, and neighbors who have supported us throughout the year. Together, we order Cheryl's cookies for those we didn't get to celebrate with during the holidays. This often includes coaches, sitters, and tutors, among others. And we add handwritten notes to accompany the gifts. When someone has shown us an extra special kindness, we send a bouquet from 1-800-Flowers to thank them.
These gestures may be simple, but they help my children see how love grows when we choose to acknowledge the people who make our days brighter.
Ways you can practice connection in the new year:
- Schedule intentional connection time
Build regular check-ins with loved ones into your routine, whether through FaceTime, calls, or visits. Consistency helps children feel connected to family near and far. - Teach gratitude through action
Talk about the people who support your family and find simple ways to say thank you. Small gestures, like notes or thoughtful treats, help kids learn how to express appreciation. - Model generosity and kindness
Show children that acknowledging others can be easy and meaningful. When kids participate in giving, they see how simple acts of gratitude strengthen relationships and spread love.
Honoring generational relationships
As we settle into our reset, I also try to help the kids appreciate the relationships that reach beyond our own household. Some of the most meaningful connections in their lives belong to people who have been cheering for them since the very beginning.
We make time to talk about family history and the relatives whose stories shaped ours. Their grandparents love sharing memories, and the kids are always drawn in by the details, like childhood homes, traditions, and decisions that changed a life.
Every so often, the kids sit down with a stack of notecards and write short messages to grandparents, aunts, and uncles. These are just simple notes in their own handwriting. But the act slows them down enough to notice the love and wisdom that have been passed to them.
By tending to these relationships, I want them to grow up with a strong sense of identity and belonging. Our reset isn't only about routines and habits; it's about remembering the family story they're part of and recognizing that they carry that story forward.
How to integrate generational values into your life:
- Share family stories regularly
Make space for conversations about family history and the people who came before you. Stories help children understand where they come from and feel connected to something bigger than themselves. - Create simple moments of outreach
Encourage kids to write short notes or messages in their own words to relatives. The act of slowing down to write helps them recognize and appreciate the love behind those relationships. - Connect identity to belonging
Talk about how family traditions, choices, and values shape who they are today. Framing these relationships as part of their story builds a strong sense of identity and continuity.
Moving into 2026 with heart and intention
As the new year begins, our family reset reveals itself in the way we move through our days with a little more care. We pay closer attention to the people who support us, and we make space for moments that bring us closer together. The rhythm helps us see what matters with fresh eyes.
For me, starting the year this way is an act of presence. It's a reminder to lead with gratitude and create a home where the kids feel rooted and encouraged to grow.
As Margaux, Jack, and Scarlett continue to find their way, I hope these early-year moments stay with them. Our reset may begin in January, but it becomes the foundation that steadies us throughout everything that follows.
AUTHOR
Bridget Hogue Costello is a seasoned experience strategist and brand leader, currently serving as head of experiences at 1-800-Flowers.com. She brings a people-first approach to customer engagement, blending creativity with operational excellence.
