Ten Things To Do This Year to Make Yourself, Your Home, and Your Family Happier
The New Year always arrives quietly in our home. I have learned over the years that this week is not about jumping into big resolutions or completely reinventing life overnight.
Instead, it is about small, intentional choices that gently shape the year ahead. Today, I am sharing a list of ten things you can do to make yourself, your home, and your family happier.
Make Yourself, Your Home, and Your Family Happier
True happiness in the New Year is not created by perfection. It is made by habits, rituals, and a home that supports the people who live there. When you focus on yourself, your home, and your family together, everything feels more balanced and more doable.
Here are ten things you can do as the New Year begins to create more joy, calm, and connection for the months ahead.
1. Clear the Physical and Mental Clutter
There is something incredibly freeing about starting the year with less. Less clutter, less noise, and fewer things pulling at your attention. Begin with small spaces rather than tackling the entire house at once. A kitchen drawer, a bedside table, or a linen closet is enough to get momentum going.
As you sort through items, ask yourself whether they serve your life now, not the life you used to have or the one you imagine someday. Letting go of what no longer fits creates room for peace and clarity.
Mental clutter matters just as much. Write down everything that feels unfinished or heavy on your mind. Seeing it on paper often makes it feel less overwhelming and more manageable.
I may sometimes use affiliate links on this blog, which means I earn a small commission if you purchase through them. The price will be the same whether you use the affiliate link or go directly to the vendor’s website using a non-affiliate link.
2. Create a Simple Morning or Evening Ritual
Routines anchor us, especially during busy seasons. A simple ritual at the beginning or end of the day can completely change how your home feels.
This does not need to be elaborate. It might be lighting a candle and enjoying a quiet cup of coffee before the house wakes up. It could be a nightly kitchen reset where everyone helps for ten minutes. Or it could even be reading a few pages of a book before bed instead of reaching for your phone.
When these moments repeat daily, they bring calm and predictability that benefit the whole family.
3. Refresh One Space in Your Home That You Use Every Day
A happy home does not require a full remodel. Sometimes all it takes is refreshing one well loved space.
Choose a room or corner that gets daily use, such as the kitchen, family room, or entryway. Add new pillows, reorganize shelves, bring in fresh greenery, or update lighting. Even small changes can shift the energy of a space.
When your home feels welcoming and functional, daily life feels easier and more joyful.
4. Prioritize Shared Family Time Without Distractions
Life moves fast, and it is easy to be together without truly connecting. One of the best gifts you can give your family is intentional time without distractions.
Choose one or two moments each week that are protected. Family dinners, game nights, Sunday breakfasts, or evening walks are all wonderful options. Phones stay off the table. Conversations are encouraged. Laughter is welcome.
These moments build connection in ways that last far beyond the New Year.
5. Take Better Care of Yourself Without Guilt
Caring for yourself is not selfish. It is necessary. When you feel supported and rested, you show up more fully for your home and family.
This might mean going to bed earlier, moving your body in a way you enjoy, or carving out creative time. It might mean saying no to commitments that drain you.
Pay attention to what truly fills you up. Small, consistent acts of self-care create a foundation of happiness that carries into every area of life.
6. Simplify Your Meals and Make Them More Meaningful
I love cooking and entertaining, but even I get tired of planning meals every single day. The New Year is when I simplify.
I create a short list of go-to dinners that everyone enjoys. I repeat breakfasts and lunches without overthinking them, and I keep ingredients on hand that make cooking easier.
At the same time, I make room for meaningful meals. I set the table, even on a random Tuesday. I light candles, and I slow things down. Food tastes better when you are not rushing through it.
7. Set Family Goals Instead of Only Personal Ones
Instead of focusing only on personal goals, I love setting intentions for our family. We talk about what we want the year to feel like.
More laughter. More time together. Fewer rushed evenings. More dinners at home. These shared goals help us stay connected and on the same page.
It reminds me that happiness is something we build together.
8. Bring More Nature Into Your Home
Nature has a calming effect that is hard to replicate. Adding natural elements to your home can instantly lift spirits.
Fresh flowers, potted plants, branches from the yard, or bowls of seasonal fruit all bring life and texture indoors. Natural materials like wood, linen, and stone also add warmth and comfort.
These simple additions make your home feel grounded and welcoming throughout the year.
9. Establish Traditions That You Can Return to All Year
Some of my favorite family traditions are not connected to holidays at all. They are the simple, repeatable moments that happen throughout the year.
Weekly family dinners. Sunday morning coffee and conversation. Baking together just because. These traditions give our year rhythm and comfort.
They are often the moments we remember most.
10. Choose a Word or Intention for the Year
Rather than making a long list of resolutions, I choose one word each year. It becomes a gentle guide for decisions big and small.
Last year, the word was cozy. In other years, it was connection, calm, or simplicity. I write it down and keep it somewhere visible.
This year, my word is creativity.
When life feels overwhelming, that word helps bring me back to what matters most.
A Gentle Start to the New Year
The New Year does not need to be about changing everything. For me, it is about returning to what matters most.
A home that feels warm and welcoming. A family that feels connected. A life that allows space for creativity, rest, and joy.
If there is one thing I have learned over the years, it is this. Happiness is not something you chase. It is something you create slowly, through everyday choices and intentional living.
As we step into this New Year, my hope is that you find comfort in your home, joy in your family, and a little more peace in your days. That, to me, is what makes a year truly beautiful.
If you enjoy my blog, you can sign up to receive my updates here.
.Latest Posts
-
An Exciting New Year at My 100 Year Old Home and Sunday Morning Coffee
There is something truly special about the beginning of a new year. The calendar feels fresh, the house is still cozy from the holidays, and there is a sense of possibility in the air. At My 100 Year Old Home, a new year is never just about turning the page. It is about creativity, connection,…
-
Twelve Kitchen Items You Really Need to Throw Away
January is the month we all like to organize. So, let’s talk about the things you forget to organize and toss, like these twelve kitchen items you need to throw away. But never do. Why? Because, like me, you are too busy reading about how to organize your pantry or linen closet. This year, I…
-
The Five Minute Winter Wreath DIY
I love making wreaths, and I’m pleased with how this five-minute winter wreath turned out. I look forward to sharing how easy it is to make. This is an easy wreath that looks amazing. I made this winter wreath, and there is a secret. And what is that? Having the right stuff to make it…
-
A New Year and What Matters Most
There’s something so peaceful about the quiet of January 1st and a new year. The decorations are still twinkling, the house feels calm, and there’s a gentle pause in the air, that moment between what was and what’s to come.
My Recent Instagram Posts
You can pin the image below to your boards on Pinterest (click the Pin button in the top left corner) or follow me on Pinterest!
For more real-time updates, follow me on Instagram @My100YearOldHome
GM c(_) . . . love the ceramic pitcher with ‘pour’ written on it … where can I find one? (checked Amazon and didn’t find it there)
Thank you
I’ve enjoyed your posts so much! Happy New Year
I would LOVE for you to share some easy meals you mentioned.