What’s Your 2026 New Year’s Resolution For The Neighborhood? Block Talk

One of the most enduring of New Year’s Eve traditions is making resolutions. These promises to ourselves typically involve self-improvement, positive change and fresh starts, driven by a genuine desire to be better in the coming year.

What if you could make resolutions for your community or neighborhood in 2026? We’re asking for Block Talk, Patch’s exclusive neighborhood etiquette column.

Neighborhood resolutions can strengthen bonds, improve local spaces, and enhance safety and overall well-being. Action steps to accomplish them could include things like organizing community cleanups, starting a community garden, planning neighborhood events, and helping out neighbors who may be ill or unable to take care of their properties the way they’d like.

What would you do to make the neighborhood resolution a success?

Only about 10 percent of people who make resolutions stick with them, according to various estimates, including one from Ohio State University.

Identifying the rewards of the goal is a good first step, readers told Patch last year in an informal survey about their New Year’s resolutions. Also, they said, obstacles are normal and it’s important to have a plan to overcome them. Setting up a way to be accountable for resolutions also increases the chances of success, readers said.

The same principles apply to setting goals to make where you live an even better place to live in 2026.

Now, take our survey. As always, we don’t collect email addresses.

About Block Talk

Block Talk is a regular Patch feature offering real-world advice from readers on how to resolve everyday neighborhood problems. If you have a neighborhood etiquette question or problem you'd like for us to consider, email beth.dalbey@patch.com, with Block Talk as the subject line.

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