As you prepare to welcome the new year alongside your partner, you might also be contemplating healthier resolutions together. While embarking on a health-focused journey as a couple can be beneficial, it does pose its challenges. Dr. Courtney Polenick, an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Michigan Medical School, highlights that spouses and partners significantly impact each other’s physical activities, dietary habits, and even sleep patterns. However, initiating a collaborative resolution should be approached delicately to avoid any perceptions of nagging.

Partners tend to influence each other’s health both in overt and subtle ways, explains Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad, a psychology and neuroscience professor at Brigham Young University. Direct influences include motivating your partner to seek medical attention or prompting them to take their medications. Indirectly, couples can act as role models. For instance, if one partner frequently exercises, it may inspire the other to be more active. That being said, this influence can also have a negative effect; for example, if one partner smokes or is resistant to exercise, this could discourage the other from adopting healthier habits.

Getting aligned on health goals can indeed be a bit tricky. However, experts like Polenick and Holt-Lunstad offer advice for navigating this process effectively.

**1. Cultivate a Positive Mindset**
Polenick emphasizes the importance of fostering a supportive environment. Instead of framing a resolution in a negative light—such as implying your partner needs to change due to laziness—it’s better to focus on mutual health benefits. For example, approach fitness by discussing ways you can both incorporate more activity into your daily lives. According to federal guidelines, adults should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity weekly, along with muscle-strengthening exercises twice a week.

**2. Start with Small Steps**
Many individuals tend to set overly ambitious New Year’s resolutions. Therefore, take a gentle approach by beginning with manageable goals. For instance, if the aim is to walk together in the evenings, it might be wise to start with a couple of nights a week before committing to daily walks. By establishing this new habit first, you can then focus on improving your dietary habits.

**3. Collaborate on Goals**
Working together on objectives such as ensuring adequate sleep can be quite beneficial. Most adults need between seven to nine hours of sleep each night for optimal health, according to the American Heart Association. However, when one partner prefers staying up late while the other is an early riser, creating a shared bedtime plan may prove difficult. Instead, consider shared goals that can be achieved, such as limiting caffeine and screen time before bed.

**4. Offer Mutual Support**
Supporting each other’s health aspirations is crucial, especially if one partner aims to quit smoking. In scenarios where one person wishes to change while the other does not share the same goal, polling your partner for ways to be helpful is vital. This might involve finding healthy methods for stress relief or engaging in activities that promote well-being together.

**5. Manage Stress Together**
Maintaining a good relationship can minimize the adverse health impacts of stress, as noted by Holt-Lunstad. If you’re initiating resolutions to reduce stress, it’s essential to remember that each person may have different coping mechanisms. Being responsive to your partner’s needs and preferences—whether they prefer to talk things through or seek a solution—can critically enhance support during stressful times.

**6. Engage Socially as a Couple**
While romantic partnerships are significant, other relationships matter for overall health and wellness too. Research indicates that it’s beneficial to cultivate varied social connections. This could manifest as planning monthly dinners with friends or enrolling in a fun class together, whether it’s painting, cooking, or some other shared interest.

**7. Prioritize Quality Time**
Recognizing that couples impact each other’s health by infusing meaning into their lives is fundamental. Holt-Lunstad suggests reevaluating how you’re allocating your time. It’s important to focus on shared activities that bring joy, like reading books together or designating a weekly date night. This kind of engagement fosters deeper connections and contributes to both partners’ happiness.

**8. Embrace Self-Care**
In relationships where caregiving is prominent, it’s not uncommon for one partner to become preoccupied with fulfilling the needs of the other, leading to neglect of their own health. According to Holt-Lunstad, making self-care resolutions is an essential aspect of maintaining your well-being. It’s a proactive way to express your commitment to being healthy for your partner.

By incorporating these strategies into your resolutions, couples can create a supportive atmosphere conducive to improved health and well-being as they navigate the new year together.