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January is a popular time to gain some new habits and leave some old ones in the dust. But it’s difficult to do this alone, isn’t it? Goals like losing weight, getting fit, or even drinking a little less are admirable - but how do we stick to them?
Dry January, for example, is made much easier by the fact that so many of us are doing it together. But what if you need someone closer to help you achieve what you want in 2026? Well, you’ve got the perfect partner right there: your tailmate.
Here, we share some New Year habit ideas, show how you and your tailmate can help each other, and detail how you can both start next year by putting your best paws forward. Let’s do this.
Why integrate your tailmate into your New Year plans?
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So, why is it a good idea to integrate our tailmates into our New Year's goals? Well, we know as pet parents you take them anywhere you can, so why not have them as your workout buddy or as someone to keep us accountable?
We get it: they’re your tailmates, and you want them to have the best life possible. But integrating them into your healthy habits means you can both benefit from new, fresh habits.
It’s a win-win: you help improve your tailmate’s life with these cat and dog health tips, and they get a pet parent who is healthier and happier.
The Dry January advantage: how your pet can help you
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Your pet can help with Dry January by keeping you distracted, motivated and allowing you to better see the benefits of kicking booze for the month (or longer).
Benefits your tailmate can bring you include:
More energy for early morning walks
No drink means better sleep, and better sleep means it's much easier to wake up early. Combine this with morning walkies time, and you’re on to a winner - morning sunlight, regular exercise, a happy tailmate and improved sleep!
Think of the money saved
Drink costs a lot these days, so a savings tracker can help keep you motivated. Attaching a monetary figure to your hard work can keep you focused, and if you have a reward for your pet out of the money saved at the end of it, it’ll keep you locked in for their sake.
Better sleep (for all involved)
No drink means your sleep will improve, and may prevent any regular snoring, meaning better sleep for all involved (especially if your pet sleeps in the same room as you).
Accountability and habits: quick tips
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Accountability is hard - we get it. This is where our tailmates can help us. Here are some helpful tailmate-inclusive tips you can say to yourself or follow:
Replace the pub with play and walk
Say it after me: “Instead of the pub, we walk”
When you’d usually go to a dog-friendly pub, replace some of your usual days with a walk or hike. You should focus on experiential rewards (as in experiences with your tailmate) instead of consumption-based rewards, like a drink.
Focusing on these moments with your pet can help stop any consumption habits you want to break.
Pet-inclusive money tracking
If you can translate how much money quitting a habit has saved you, it becomes much more motivating. For example, put together a money saved tracker, and shift the reward away from whatever that is, like alcohol, into saving for something nice for your pet, like a plush new bed or some toys. This keeps you motivated and accountable.
Pick a structure that respects both of your needs
If you’re exercising or picking a healthy habit that requires scheduling, pick a time that works for you.
For example, if you usually crash at 5PM from work and you have a step goal, then consider walking earlier in the day or breaking your walks into shorter, regular walks instead of one long one.
In essence, pick a schedule and structure that works for you and your tailmate, and stick to it.
Exercising more
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Wanting to exercise more, whether it’s hikes, walks, running or just more playtime with your pet, is a great way to get our tailmates involved.
For example, setting a step goal per day is a great way to improve your fitness over time. Most people aim for 10,000 steps, but just pick a goal that seems achievable. Trust us, with a dog in tow, you’ll be hitting those step targets with ease.
You can even schedule regular playtime with your cat, for instance, for around 15 minutes twice a day, which will give you both a bit of a workout too.
Getting morning sunlight: the benefits of a shared morning routine
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One of the best habits you can do is getting some morning sunlight regularly. And yes, even in the rainy, grey British winter, some UV light still peaks through, giving us that much-needed vitamin D.
Early morning sunshine has been linked with benefits like:
Boosting our mood
Improved focus
Increased energy
Regulating our internal clock, which helps us sleep
Vitamin D exposure, which is essential for strengthening immunity
Now, how can our tailmates help with this? Well, we’re sure if you’ve set your dog’s walk first thing in the morning when it’s light out, for example, they’ll let you know, and when they think it’s walkies time, you’ll be much more motivated to go outside.
Mental & emotional well-being
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It’s essential to prioritise your emotional and mental wellbeing during the New Year, and you may be picking some New Year Resolutions to help with that. In fact, if we’re breaking “bad” habits, like drinking, it can get emotionally and mentally draining - this is where our tailmates can help us.
Having dedicated time for quality bonding with our pets can help us recharge, especially if we take this time for their enrichment and mental stimulation. Petting, play and spending time chilling together have been shown to lower our stress levels, so it’s worth doing.
We’ve covered more in our enrichment and wellbeing articles, but examples include:
Hide-and-seek
Interactive toys
Puzzle feeders
Teaching new tricks
Training sessions
These will help you, but the consistent schedule will benefit your tailmate, too, lowering their anxiety and stress.
Getting more social
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For us introverts, we sometimes take the New Year to set some goals to become more sociable or challenge ourselves. For others, it’s a good time to try something new.
So, how do you do this with your pet in tow, and how can they help? We recommend looking for things like:
Breed-specific clubs and meetups: Some clubs are breed-specific, organising play sessions for specific pets. Some may incorporate this with some skills training, and it’s a good way to meet up with like-minded people and socialise your pet, too.
Dog walking groups: This is a local community of walkers and other pet parents for some social, outdoor rambling.
Dog sports and agility clubs: Some breeds, like Border Collies, love agility tasks and these can be a good way for you and your pet to meet like-minded people.
Online communities: There are lots of online communities about cats and dogs, like Facebook groups, forums and Subreddits.
Wherever you look, your tailmate offers a good opportunity to meet new people and, best of all, other pets!
Nutrition and hydration
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After Christmas feasting has finished, it’s normal to think that the New Year is the time we’ll sort out our (and our tailmate’s) diets. Weight management for our pets is essential to keep them healthy, and obesity in pets can cause big, long-term problems.
If your pet is overweight and you’ve seen your vet for a plan and to assess their Body Condition Score (BCS), joining them on their weight loss journey can help motivate you and your pet.
For example, if your pet has shared too much food over Christmas (note: you shouldn’t ever do this, but we understand things happen), replacing them with pet-safe treats and regular exercise can improve their health. Similarly, exercise and changing your pet’s diet can motivate you to make the changes you need, too.
Water and hydration are big as well. Some of us struggle to drink enough, and, for cat parents, it’s an all-too-familiar feeling trying to get our kitties to drink enough. Having a shared hydration goal - like making sure your pet has their water bowl filled whenever you fill up your water bottle - can keep you both in sync and hitting your goals. Just don't give them too much water - research what's the right amount for your pet first.
The New Year reset: preventive care, hygiene, makeovers, and rest
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“New year, new me” may be a shallow saying to some, but for others, it’s a call to having some much-needed reset time. You can incorporate your tailmate into this with things like:
Clean-up time: Taking this time to deep clean bedding, food/water bowls, toys and clearing away any clutter can help you and your pet hit the reset button. But just be a bit careful if they’re afraid of the vacuum cleaner.
Dental health check-ups for you both: It’s easy to forget about our dental check-ups, and the same applies to our pets, but we really should keep on top of them. Start the New Year with the healthy habit of keeping your and your pet’s teeth in good shape. Our guides on brushing and dental health can help here.
Grooming and makeover time: Take some time to pamper yourself and your pet! January means you’re welcome to cut that hair, have a makeover and take care of yourself. The same applies to our tailmates, and it may be the right moment to find a new groomer or kickstart that grooming routine.
Having their regular check-up: Regular check-ups are the cornerstone of preventative pet care, and January is a nice time to get your pet’s health in order.
Rest: Most importantly, rest! Both you and your tailmate may have gone through a lot this year, so schedule in some relaxation time.
The New Year is your invitation for cosy relaxation, to unwind, recharge and reflect with your tailmate in tow. We're sure the pair of you will be in sync and motivate each other in whatever you do. Plus, since it's a New Year and you're making changes, it may be a good time to switch your insurer.
ManyPets pet insurance. For life with your tailmates.
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