Forget Resolutions: It’s Time to Make Smart Choices and Stop Feeling Guilty!

The start of the year is always filled with “new year’s resolutions”. More exercise, quitting smoking, beginning a diet to shed some extra pounds… While these goals are commendable, they often imply that we were doing something “wrong” before and aren’t always seen through to completion. What if we chose more positive resolutions that make us excited to change our daily lives and boost our morale? Sometimes, all it takes is a little courage, asserting yourself, and most importantly, releasing any guilt. Are you a mom feeling overwhelmed with managing everything at home, barely finding a moment for yourself? Delegate tasks, go out for dinner with friends, or book a massage… In short, make time for yourself! These are the real resolutions for the year 2026!

1 – Girls’ Night Out

Why not call up your friends and set up a dinner date? Let dad take care of the kids for an evening. He can surely do that once in a while. Discuss and plan to have a solo night out on a rotating basis, perhaps monthly or weekly, depending on what’s feasible for you.

2 – Ease Up on the Strict Rules

If your toddler’s room isn’t perfectly tidy, if they haven’t finished their meal, or if they watch a cartoon or go to bed a bit later than usual, take it easy! This year, we’re learning to destress to feel more relaxed.

3 – You Are a Perfect Mother, Don’t Let Anyone Tell You Otherwise

Is your mother, mother-in-law, or a friend criticizing your home and parenting? Don’t let anyone judge or belittle you. There’s no proof that they managed any better when they were new mothers. After all, what does being a good mother mean if not to protect them, teach them good values, and give them all the love they need? And you have plenty of that! So, even if your imperfections might not present the best image of you, what counts is the image you cast for your children.

4 – Implement Shared Responsibilities

Stop thinking of yourself as a “Super Woman”: you only have two hands, and often, mothers work just as much, if not more than fathers. Except for you, the second shift starts in the evening. And for those who stay home with young children, remember that a recent American study estimated the average working hours of a stay-at-home mom at 98 hours per week! It’s time, if not overdue, to distribute household and childcare duties more equally within the family.

5 – Linger in Bed a Bit Longer on Weekends

When your child was an infant, you might have rushed to their side at the slightest sound several times a night. Now that they are older, let them wake up slowly or enjoy their breakfast in peace over the weekend. And you too, take advantage of that extra quarter-hour or half-hour to rest a bit more.

6 – Schedule Some Pampering and Beauty Appointments

As a new mom, it’s normal to spend a lot of time caring for your baby. What’s less normal is not having time to care for yourself. How about booking a relaxing massage? In 2026, make your appointments and leave the baby with their dad: it’s finally time to pamper yourself!

7 – A Weekend, A Night at a Hotel

This is probably what most moms dream of. Being able to sleep alone, without a baby waking them up at night. Eloise waited until her son was three years old to do it and she does not regret it. “I booked a weekend with a friend and finally got to sleep through the night and lounge in bed in the morning!” she shares with us, thrilled to have had a chance to breathe.