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New Year's Resolutions for Couples (40 Ideas to Try Together)

40 New Year's resolution ideas for couples, from weekly date nights and phone-free dinners to money talks, shared adventures and small daily habits, plus how to set resolutions together without it turning into a list of complaints.

MKMark King · Published Nov 9, 2026 · 3 min read

A shared resolution is one of the nicest things a couple can do in January. It isn’t about fixing each other. It’s about choosing something you both want more of this year.

Here are 40 ideas, plus a simple way to pick them together.

How to set resolutions together

1. Each write down three things you’d like more of as a couple. More time outside, more laughing, less arguing about dishes.
2. Compare lists and circle anything that appears on both.
3. Pick one or two shared resolutions and make them specific: what, when, how often.
4. Keep personal goals separate. You can support each other’s goals without making them joint.
5. Check in once a month, ideally over a nice dinner.

A good rule: phrase every resolution as something you’ll do together, never as something the other person should stop doing.

Time together

1. Have a date night every other week, at home or out.
2. Eat dinner together at the table at least four nights a week.
3. Go for a walk together on Sunday mornings.
4. Keep one evening a week phone-free.
5. Go to bed at the same time on weeknights.
6. Have coffee together before work on weekdays.
7. Plan one weekend away this year.
8. Take turns planning a surprise date once a month.

Talking and connection

9. Ask each other “what was the best part of your day?” every evening.
10. Have a 15-minute check-in every Sunday about the week ahead.
11. Say one thing I appreciate about you every day.
12. Put phones away when the other person is talking.
13. Write each other a short note once a month.
14. Talk about one big dream or plan each season.
15. Agree to take a 20-minute break when an argument gets heated, then come back to it.
16. Say thank you for the everyday stuff.

Money

17. Have a money date once a month to look at spending together.
18. Set one shared savings goal for the year.
19. Agree on a spending amount above which we check with each other first.
20. Cook at home together instead of ordering in on Fridays.
21. Each keep a small amount of “no questions asked” money.
22. Save for a trip in a separate account.

Home

23. Split chores fairly and write the split down.
24. Do a 10-minute tidy together after dinner.
25. Plan the week’s meals together on Sunday.
26. Finish one home project each season.
27. Make the bedroom a phone-free space.

Adventure and fun

28. Try one new restaurant each month.
29. Learn something new together: a dance class, a language, cooking.
30. Visit one new place a month, even just a new park.
31. Start a shared hobby, like a board game night or a puzzle.
32. Take a day trip once a season.
33. Watch the sunrise together once this year.
34. Make a shared bucket list and tick off three things.
35. Recreate your first date.

Health

36. Exercise together twice a week.
37. Cook one new healthy recipe together each week.
38. Get outside together every weekend.
39. Support each other’s sleep: lights out by a set time.
40. Remind each other to take breaks from screens.

What to avoid

• Resolutions that are really complaints. “You’ll stop leaving socks everywhere” will start a fight, not a habit.
• Too many goals at once. One or two shared resolutions is plenty.
• Comparing with other couples. Choose what fits your life, not what looks good online.

Make them fit your life

Ideas only help if they fit your schedule. Put “our relationship” as the area and what you’re working around (opposite shifts, a new baby, long distance) into our New Year’s Resolution Generator, and pick from three sets of small, specific resolutions you can actually keep together. For individual goals, see our list of 100 New Year’s resolution ideas.