The beginning of a new year is the time to make resolutions to accomplish things that are important to us. Popular resolutions include things like losing weight, exercising, and improving finances.

This year, consider also setting goals to strengthen and improve your relationships with your spouse and family. Here is a top-ten list of goals for improving relationships from experts at K-State Research and Extension:

1. Weekly Family Time. Scheduled family time on a weekly basis is as excellent way to improve family closeness and fun.

2. Weekly Couple Time. Scheduled couple time on a weekly basis (such as a lunch date or movie night) is important to foster communication and build the couple relationship.

3. Family Service Project. Choosing, planning and carrying out a service project for someone in need can help improve family closeness and gratitude. Work together to help others often. As you help those in need, you will grow together and make the community a better place to live.

4. Spirituality. Examining how you are doing spiritually can provide a renewed feeling of purpose and improved stress management.

5. Improved Personal Traits. Improving ourselves– such as working on patience, anger control, forgiveness, stress management, worry, and such– naturally makes us better persons and better family members. Our commitment to change might invite others to improve as well.

6. Open Communication. Establishing a plan to be more open with each other as a couple on a more frequent basis can help build intimacy. You might agree to have your “couple talk” over an early-morning cup of coffee, at lunch, or before bed time. Choose a time when you are both relaxed and interested in sharing news of the day with each other.

7. Learn a New Hobby as a Couple. Build new bonds by developing a hobby or skill that you can share. Take dance lessons, go on a birding tour, learn to refinish furniture, take up gardening, sing in a choir, go antiquing — the possibilities of things to do together are endless!

8. Take a Walk. Walking as a family can improve overall life satisfaction and strengthen communication. Spend some active time together to build healthy habits for the whole family.

9. Couple Exercise. Exercising together in an activity you both enjoy can lead to better health and stronger relationships. Exercise like walking, bicycling, tennis, bowling, etc., reduces stress as it improves health and provides quality time together.

10. Family Vacations and Trips. A family outing doesn’t have to cost a lot of money or take a lot of time. The fun of discovering new sights and experiences can help families spend time together, create lasting memories and renew family bonds.

As you make plans to strengthen relationships this year, write your goals down. Once a goal goes into writing it becomes “real” and starts etching itself into your subconscious. Reread your goals periodically to check progress and to re-energize your commitment to improving your relationships this year.

Linda Beech is Ellis County Extension agent for family and consumer sciences.