Why Most New Year Resolutions Fail (and the Small Changes That Actually Help Busy Mums)

Every January, it starts again.

New plans.
New goals.
A fresh determination to “get organised”, “eat better”, or “finally get on top of dinner”.

And every year, so many of those plans quietly fall away.

Not because mums don’t care.
Not because they lack motivation.
But because the changes they’re trying to make are simply too big for real life.

Especially when you’re raising children, running on broken sleep, and already giving everything you have.

The Problem Isn’t You - It’s the Size of the Plan

January often comes with pressure to overhaul everything at once.

New routines.
New habits.
New expectations.

But busy mums don’t need more to do.

Big goals can feel motivating at first - until normal life kicks in.
A bad night’s sleep.
A clingy toddler.
A long, draining day.

What actually sticks isn’t willpower.
It’s small systems that support you when energy is low.

And that’s where real change begins.

Step One: Decide How You Want Evenings to Feel

This is the part many people roll their eyes at.

It can sound a bit fluffy… but it matters more than you think.

Before changing what’s on your plate, it helps to ask:
How do I want evenings to feel?

Not:

• more productive

• more impressive

• more “together”
  

But things like:

• calmer

• less rushed

• fewer decisions

• more present with your children
  

If you don’t know the feeling you’re aiming for, it’s very hard to build systems that support it.

When you’re clear on how you want evenings to feel, batch cooking stops feeling like another job and starts feeling like support.
This is why batch cooking works so well - it isn’t one-size-fits-all. You can adapt it to the outcome you want and the work–life balance you’re juggling.

Step Two: Start Batch Cooking With Food Your Family Already Loves

One of the biggest mistakes people make with batch cooking is starting with brand new recipes.

That’s a lot of effort for something you might not even like.

A much simpler place to start is this:
write down the meals your family already enjoys.

Meals you know get eaten.
Meals you already cook.

Then, check which of those freeze well.

And here’s an important (and very real) truth:

If you batch cook something you don’t like, it will live in your freezer forever.

If you don’t have a list yet, don’t worry - most people don’t.
You can build it slowly, one meal at a time.

Get my freezer meals guide here to help you understand what meals freeze well.

Step Three: Double What You’re Already Cooking

Batch cooking doesn’t require a dedicated “prep day”.

The easiest way to start is far more gentle.

Make dinner as normal.
Double the recipe.
Freeze half.

That’s it.

No leftovers - just home-cooked meals ready for future you.

This one small change is why, in many homes (including mine), the majority of evening meals now come from the freezer.

Fair warning though… this part can get addictive.

Step Four: You Don’t Need Fancy Containers To Start Batch Cooking

Another thing that stops mums starting is thinking they need all the right equipment.

You don’t.

Takeaway tubs are fine.
Old containers are fine.
Using what you already have is more than enough.

The most important thing is starting - not upgrading.

Progress first. Perfection later.

Small Changes Add Up to Calmer Evenings

You don’t need to change everything this January.

You don’t need a freezer overhaul.
You don’t need hours in the kitchen.
You don’t need to “do it properly”.

You just need one small change that reduces pressure on you.

Batch cooking isn’t about being organised or efficient.
It’s about coping better.
Feeling calmer.
And having a little more space at the end of the day.

And if that helps even one mum feel less stressed at dinner time - it’s worth sharing.

Check out my batch cooking guide to help you get started.

With Love,

Rose.