How to Evaluate Family Rhythms and Routines for a Fresh Start in the New Year

As the new year begins, most people will look to improve their health, their workout and diet plans, maybe even their morning routines for a more successful start to their day.

As a family, how many times have you sat down and evaluated your family rhythms and routines as a unit? 

If the answer is rarely to never, the good news is that the new year is the perfect time to reflect on your family rhythms and routines. These daily patterns shape your family’s culture, priorities, and even spiritual growth. By intentionally evaluating them, you can ensure your family is living in alignment with their values and making space for what matters most.

Here are three practical steps to help you assess your family rhythms and routines, along with biblical principles to guide the process:

1. Reflect on What’s Working (and What’s Not) in Family Routines

Take time to honestly assess your current family rhythms. What routines bring peace, joy, and connection? What habits create stress or tension? Identifying the strengths and weaknesses of your daily life is the first step toward improvement.

Why It’s Important: Reflecting helps you celebrate wins while identifying areas for growth. Philippians 4:8 reminds us to focus on what is true, noble, and praiseworthy - and that applies to our family practices as well.

How to Do It:

• Gather your family and ask: “What’s one thing we love about our daily routine?” and “What’s one thing we’d like to change?”
• Write down responses and look for patterns. For example, if mornings feel rushed, it might be time to adjust wake-up times or simplify breakfast routines.
• Celebrate the positive habits you want to keep, such as a nightly family prayer time or weekly game night.

2. Align Your Family Rhythms with Your Values

Every family has unique priorities, and your family routines should reflect them. Ask yourself: Are your family rhythms a byproduct of connection, growth, and spiritual health? If not, it may be time to revisit and realign them.

Why It’s Important: Deuteronomy 6:6-7 encourages us to talk about God’s commands as part of our daily lives - when we sit, walk, lie down, and rise. Aligning routines with your faith ensures that biblical principles are molded into your family’s rhythm.

How to Do It:

• Identify your core values as a family. For example, you might prioritize faith, quality time, and health. (Unsure of what your core values are or should be? Design them yourself with our guide on value statements here) 

• Compare your current family routines to these values. Are you setting aside time for devotionals, regular church attendance or family prayer nights?

• Adjust family routines to better reflect your priorities. For example, if family dinners are important, schedule them at a consistent time and eliminate distractions like phones or TV.

3. Create Space in Family Routines for Rest and Flexibility

In our busy world, it’s easy to pack schedules so tightly that there’s no room for rest. Yet rest is a biblical principle, and it’s essential for maintaining healthy family rhythms.

Why It’s Important: God modeled rest for us in Genesis 2:2, and Jesus often withdrew to quiet places to pray (Luke 5:16). Building rest into your routine helps prevent burnout and allows your family to recharge.

How to Do It:

• Schedule downtime into your week, such as a Sunday afternoon rest or an evening with no planned activities.

• Make rest intentional by creating rituals that bring peace, such as a family walk or reading time.

• Be flexible. Life doesn’t always go as planned, and that’s okay. Flexibility ensures your routines serve your family, not the other way around.

Moving Forward on Family Rhythms

Evaluating your family rhythms and routines isn’t about achieving perfection. It’s about intentionally creating a life that reflects your family’s values and brings glory to God. By reflecting on what’s working, aligning routines with your priorities, and making space for rest, you’ll set your family up for a year of connection and growth.

So, grab a notebook, gather your loved ones, and dive into this process together. What small changes could you make today to transform your family’s rhythms and routines? With prayer and intentionality, this could be your best year yet!

To take your family’s journey to the next level, explore the Family Legacy Study. In this course, you will learn God’s purpose for your family, family communication, setting lasting values and so much more!