Resolution Series 2025: Mingle Project

Here at Haskill Creek we like to take a realistic approach to resolutions and swaps. Because yes, we are a self-care store that specializes in non-toxic and clean ingredients, but we also realize that stressing over every detail in your life is also the opposite of self-care. (Plus, that’s what our job is… we make sure that we do the stressing so that you don’t have to!) 

2025 is just around the corner, so it’s only fitting that we started thinking about our resolutions for this year. When we were thinking about how we wanted to tackle the topic this year, we thought we’d take a look at what the top New Years resolutions are, and put a Haskill twist on it. 

Related–Carrie recently introduced me to The Mingle Project, which is an initiative by Michael Smerconish, a Sirius XM radio and CNN television host, aimed at addressing societal polarization by encouraging individuals to engage with those holding different perspectives. His belief is that increased interaction among diverse groups can help bridge societal divides. 

In other words–if you spend time listening to people who have differing opinions or experiences than you do, you can gain respect and understanding for their worldview–even if you disagree or if it doesn’t align with yours. This seems obvious, but since there have been so many polarizing events in the past few years, we thought it was a good reminder.

So, we’re tackling our first two resolutions in this series with that lens in mind. Traveling more, and spending time with family and friends, can both be opportunities to gain other perspectives and go into the year with an open mind.

Resolution: Travel More

When we were talking about this list of resolutions, we were joking that this could actually be “Travel Less” if you’re like many of us who live in a large rural state and have kids in travel sports–ha! 

Joking aside, if your goal is to travel more, a great way to do this is to first define what that means for you. 

• Does it mean traveling close, and reserving more camp spots with your family? 

• Does it mean saving up for a big trip you’ve been wanting to take (See, Resolution: Save More Money)

• Is it a long weekend away with friends?
  
  For me, “traveling more” this year looks like this:

• A long weekend in California with girlfriends

• A family ski trip somewhere that’s not Whitefish (TBD, send recommendations my way!)

• Camping at least 5 times – Father’s Day at Lake Koocanusa and Old Salt Festival are on the books

• Heading somewhere warm for Thanksgiving–recommendations welcome here as well!

Top Tips for accomplishing this resolution:

• BOOK THE TRIP. No seriously, book a flight, or a camp spot, or an airbnb… and force yourself to commit the time.

• Make a financial plan–start saving now if you’re going on a trip that’s going to cost significantly more than your day-to-day budget allows, so that you’re not stressed about finances leading up to (or during) your trip. (A financial tracker or journal can help with this.)

• Put it on the calendar–mark days, weeks or weekends off on your calendar that you know will be a good fit for your schedule, and commit to them even if you don’t know where you’re going.

• Stay inspired! I love following travelers on Instagram for unique places or tips & tricks for traveling with family. Because we like to ski and camp, and we have kids, I follow people who fit that mold. But doing a quick search for places or topics that you’re interested in on Instagram typically yields tons and tons of inspiration!

Resolution: Spend more time with family & friends

We know just as well as anyone that life can get busy–and while it’s hilarious to see the memes and videos about mom-friends trying to schedule a time to get together (we’ll see you in April!), spending time with friends and family is really important to so many of us, and I’m definitely working on carving out more quality time with mine!

Here are some ideas for spending more quality time with those you love, and what I’m incorporating into my goals for 2025.

- Schedule Regular Meetups: Plan recurring activities like Sunday brunches, game nights, or outdoor walks.

This is definitely one I’m looking to do more of this year–I find that if I can make something a part of my schedule, and something that everyone is committed to and expects, it’s so much easier to make it happen than one-offs! Two that I’m specifically looking to incorporate are family game night on a weekly basis, (we love playing family games, my kids got Catan Junior for Christmas and it’s been a hit!) and Sunday morning walks (when the weather cooperates!). I feel so much better when I start my day with a walk, and Sunday mornings I actually have time to carve out a nice long walk, plus it’s a great way to catch up with friends!

-Prioritize One-on-One Time: Spend individual time with close family members or friends

I’m really awful at this, but this year I’m committing myself to doing one “date” a month with each of my kids individually, plus committing to more actual date nights with my husband–it’s SO easy to get swept up in the day to day and not carve out individual time. Adding it to my list!

-Unplug and be present: Put away phones and other distractions during social time.

Obvious, but also hard to do. I’m committing to putting my phone away for certain hours in my morning and evening so that I can be present with my family and friends, and not distracted by *literally everything* on my phone.

-Take a trip together: Plan a vacation, weekend getaway, or even a day trip to spend uninterrupted time with loved ones.

This is one of my favorite ways to spend quality time with friends and family. I find when everyone is removed from their day-to-day activities and responsibilities, it’s so much easier to unplug and spend quality time with whoever you’re traveling with. We already plan trips with our family and friends, but looking forward to continuing this in the New Year!

Here are some other ideas, in case you’re still looking for inspiration:

- Plan Group Activities: Host dinners, movie nights, or outdoor adventures that bring everyone together. Consider themed gatherings or potlucks to make it fun and easy for everyone to contribute.

- Combine Quality Time with Everyday Tasks: Cook meals together, run errands, or exercise as a way to bond while accomplishing tasks. Turn mundane activities into opportunities to connect.

- Start New Traditions: Create annual or seasonal traditions like a summer barbecue, holiday cookie swap, or family game tournament. Look for opportunities to make memories that become cherished rituals.

- Learn Something New Together: Take a cooking class, learn a new sport, or join a workshop with friends or family.

- Celebrate Milestones and Small Wins: Acknowledge birthdays, promotions, anniversaries, and other special moments with small celebrations. Don’t wait for big events—find reasons to celebrate everyday moments.

- Be Spontaneous: Say “yes” to unexpected invitations or surprise loved ones with an impromptu visit or outing.

- Start a Group Project: Work on a photo album, garden, or DIY project together.