Resolutions Worth Making in 2026

It’s the end of another year, and that means it’s resolution season again. Gym memberships are surging, budget apps are being downloaded, and kale is back in the grocery cart. But let’s be honest: how many of last year’s resolutions actually lasted?

The problem isn’t the goals themselves it’s how we set them. When our resolutions are built on rigid expectations and unrealistic benchmarks, we treat any slip-up like failure. Eventually, we give up altogether. That’s why this year, we need a different approach: not a list of do’s and don’ts, but intentional practices rooted in grace, growth, and the kind of living that actually lasts.

Here are 11 resolutions worth considering in 2026 habits that aren’t about perfection, but about living more purposefully.

1. Share More Meals with People You Care About

Busy lives lead to fast food, solo lunches, and TV dinners. But mealtime is one of the best chances we have to build relationships, check in with one another, and break the cycle of isolation. Jesus often did ministry over meals. Maybe it’s time we started treating our dinner tables as sacred spaces too.

2. Complain Less, Do More

It’s easy to critique everything the news, the Church, even the people closest to us. But as believers, we’re called to be doers, not just commentators. Philippians 2:14–15 urges us to “do everything without grumbling... so that [we] shine among [others] like stars in the sky.” This year, let’s replace passive venting with proactive service.

3. Pray More Often and More Freely

Martin Luther once said, “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” Prayer isn’t just a spiritual discipline it’s spiritual oxygen. You don’t need a perfect setting or an eloquent script. Pray in the car, in the kitchen, in your anxiety and in your joy. The more you talk with God, the more peace will follow.

4. Listen to More New Music Every Week

The music world is changing fast. With AI-generated artists flooding platforms, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But discovering new music especially from artists rooted in truth, beauty, and creativity can inspire us and open our ears to how culture is evolving. Let 2026 be a year of expanding your playlist intentionally.

5. Read More Good Books

C.S. Lewis once advised that every good book should be read at least once every 10 years. That might be ambitious, but the point stands: books shape us. Wisdom doesn’t only come from podcasts or social media it often lives in quiet pages, waiting to stretch our imagination and sharpen our convictions. Schedule reading time like it’s sacred (because it is).

6. Challenge Your Own Assumptions More Often

In our polarized age, standing firm in truth is important but so is humility. Proverbs 18:13 warns against forming conclusions before hearing the whole matter. What if questioning our long-held beliefs isn’t a threat to our faith but a chance to refine it? Listening doesn’t mean compromising. It means loving with both courage and curiosity.

7. Spend Less Time on Your Phone

By the end of 2026, will you remember that viral meme or the deep conversation you had with a friend face-to-face? Our phones are helpful tools but they’re terrible companions when they replace real presence. Consider Sabbath-ing from screens once a week. Or start with one phone-free meal a day. Digital peace starts with small boundaries.

8. Give Without Expecting Anything in Return

Whether it's your time, money, or energy, generosity that expects repayment isn’t generosity it’s a transaction. Jesus taught, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). This year, let giving be an act of quiet worship, not a social flex. Start small a coffee for a coworker, a note of encouragement, a meal for someone in need.

9. Commit to One Spiritual Discipline You’ve Neglected

Maybe it’s journaling, fasting, solitude, or Scripture memorization. Choose one area of spiritual life you've let go and gently return to it. Don't try to master everything. Just choose one. Growth comes in the slow, faithful return.

10. Forgive Someone Even If They Never Ask

Unforgiveness is a heavy weight to carry into a new year. Ephesians 4:32 calls us to forgive just as Christ forgave us. That doesn’t mean excusing wrong or rushing healing it means releasing bitterness. Begin with a prayer. Healing might take time, but freedom starts with the choice to let go.

11. Trade Resolutions for Rhythms

Resolutions often come with pressure. Rhythms come with grace. Instead of perfection-driven goals, adopt life-giving patterns. Maybe it’s a monthly solitude day, a weekly family night, or a daily walk without your phone. These small, steady steps can form the foundation of a meaningful year.

2026 doesn’t need to be the year you accomplish everything. It can be the year you live with more intention, more presence, and more faith. Start small. Choose rhythms over rules. Make room for grace. And trust that the God who begins a good work in you will carry it on even if your resolution list gets a little messy by February.

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