More Than Reality with Adam and Danielle Busby

Episode 65: The New Year Pressure Is Real… Here’s Our Family Reset for 2026
Release Date: January 8, 2026

Episode Overview

In this candid New Year’s episode, Adam and Danielle Busby reflect on the unique pressures and expectations that come with the fresh start of 2026. They share their personal feelings about resets, goals, and the overwhelming nature of change—especially after a year filled with transition for their family of eight. Through their honest conversation, they reveal their family’s approach to embracing intention, presence, and togetherness in the midst of chaos. The central message: it's often the simplest family rituals—like sitting together at the table—that ultimately make the biggest impact.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Cultural Pressure of New Year’s Resolutions

• Societal Expectations: Danielle observes the annual rush for self-improvement and the crowded gyms and churches on the first Sunday of the year.

• Quote: “Why do we wait? Why do people wait to the new year? Like, why aren't they, like, tomorrow I'm gonna do this?” — Danielle, [02:54]

• Fresh Starts: Adam compares the new year to a fresh notebook—inviting but sometimes superficial.

• Quote: “It's like a fresh notebook you're opening up. It's satisfying.” — Danielle, [03:22]

• Realism About Resolutions: Both admit they sometimes struggle to articulate or accomplish sweeping annual goals, and Danielle recounts how, uniquely, she didn’t really have a guiding word or intention coming into 2026, which felt odd after years of having clear goals.

• Quote: “This year started and I didn't really have… like, this is what the year is gonna do.” — Danielle, [03:57]

2. The Weight and Aftermath of a Year of Change

• Reflection on 2025: The Busbys unpack the major transitions of the past year—moving homes (even if only 30 minutes away), new schools, a new church, and a smaller house. They emphasize that, for their girls, these weren’t minor adjustments but real upheaval.

• Quote: “2025 was like this year of so much happened, so much change in our life. And so like… you go through this year of just like just so much drastic change.” — Adam, [14:26]

• 2026’s Pressures: The couple describes the feeling of needing to see change—what “fruition” looks like—but admit that always striving for finality is an impossible and pressuring standard.

• Quote: “2025 was like our season of change. But 2026 is like, whenever everything's going to kind of, in a sense, come to fruition or… like a finality, which, when will we ever get to that?” — Adam, [15:29]

3. Spiritual Reset and Personal Routines

• Difficulty of Refocusing: Adam confides that the busyness of the holidays, coupled with more home video work, left him feeling scattered and out of rhythm.

• Back to Basics: Adam bought a new study Bible with the specific intention of avoiding the distractions of digital devices during his quiet time. Danielle supports the effort to return to grounding spiritual habits.

• Quote: “I ordered a new Bible. …I'm just trying to get away, like, from a device while I'm studying the Bible… I don't want to do that.” — Adam, [09:27]

• Consistency as a Struggle: Both discuss how lapses in routine—whether reading, praying, or simply finishing what’s started—are universal, not points of shame.

4. The Family Table: Busby’s Core Reset

• Intentional Dinner Time: Danielle puts forth a simple, actionable family goal: nightly dinners together, with phones away and everyone present.

• Quote: “Just for your family, like, have meal at the table together. I don't care if you're picking up fast food… maybe you're all eating something different. Just sit together at the table.” — Danielle, [20:41]

• Mealtime Rituals: The Busbys use this time for daily check-ins, asking each daughter to share the high and low of their day—an anchor for connection.

• Quote: “We always start with whose day is it? …Everyone can't talk over whoever's talking. It's probably the one moment of the day where …everyone knows it's her turn…” — Danielle, [18:16]

• Why the Table Matters: Adam and Danielle underline the cultural loss of the family meal and yearn for a return to togetherness.

• Quote: “Let's get back to the basics… what the table and being around the table with other people is meant to do and be.” — Adam, [21:15]

5. Parenting, Presence, and Individual Connection

• Intentional One-on-Ones: With six kids, it’s often impossible for everyone to be together. The Busbys highlight the importance of making the most of one-on-one time when taking a child to sports or appointments.

• Quote: “It's about, let me have this one on one. Let me have this little date with her. Her. Because that's our world.” — Danielle, [32:21]

• Personal Example: Adam recounts how Riley, one of the quintuplets, deeply values undivided attention during her tennis practices, reinforcing the necessity of knowing each child’s “thing.”

• Quote: “She wants me to just kind of be there. Even though I'm not practicing with her. She wants me to… be like, in it with her.” — Adam, [29:17]

• Cherishing Family: They stress the fleeting nature of childhood and the privilege of being intentional with the time left before the older girls leave home.

• Quote: “It's all precious time, and I think that there's so much hurry and busyness, and it's just—you gotta find those moments, even if it's five minutes, to just really stop and… be present with that child.” — Danielle, [33:22]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Why do people wait to the new year? Like, why aren't they, like, tomorrow I'm gonna do this?” — Danielle, [02:54]
• “I feel like I've just been scatterbrained… all over the place and just trying to get, like, this done and this done…” — Adam, [07:28]
• “This year started and I didn't really have… like, this is what the year is gonna do.” — Danielle, [03:57]
• “The best time is like, right at the start of the year. Like, I'm gonna hit this year strong.” — Adam, [03:56]
• “Just sit together at the table.” — Danielle, [20:41]
• “The quints are 10 years old. Blake's 14. Blake is in high school… there's three and a half more years in, quote unquote, in our house with us before she goes to college… it's all precious time.” — Danielle, [33:28]
• “Do it well. Do it better. Do it better. You know, so. Or as the girls used to say—more better, more better.” — Danielle, [34:49]
• “Let us know, like, what yours is… this is like this community… y’all talk amongst yourselves… let us see what your aspirations are for the year.” — Adam, [35:58]

Timestamps of Key Segments

• 01:45 — The challenge of getting back into family routine after a busy holiday break
• 02:54–04:59 — Reflections on the reset mentality and where their goal-setting usually begins
• 09:27 — Adam’s desire for a device-free Bible study and the need for undistracted spiritual routines
• 14:26–15:40 — Discussion of the major life changes in 2025 and how that shapes the pressure they feel in 2026
• 18:16–21:15 — The power of intentional dinner routines and why the family table is vital
• 29:16–31:36 — Riley’s preference for intentional time and how each child’s love language is different
• 32:21–33:28 — Making the most of one-on-one moments; the value of presence
• 34:49 — The preciousness of family time and the Busby’s signature phrase: “more better”
• 35:58–36:41 — Call to listeners to share their own words, goals, and feelings about the New Year's pressure

Episode Takeaways

• You don’t need a grand plan to make a meaningful reset. Sometimes, the most practical and powerful family goal is simply being present together.
• Intentional table time is a cornerstone of Busby family life. Anchoring each day with a ritual of togetherness provides not just connection, but a sense of stability and belonging.
• It’s okay if you don’t have a ‘word’ or resolution for the year. What matters most, the Busbys say, is moving through change with awareness, gratitude, and small acts of intention.
• Cherish the fleeting moments. Their reminder resonates for all parents: time with kids passes quickly, so be present—even if just for five minutes.
• Join the community. The Busbys invite their listeners to reflect, share, and build a supportive community for the year ahead.

Tone & Style

This episode strikes a warm, relatable, and conversational tone, marked by honesty, self-deprecation, and southern humor. Adam and Danielle freely admit their struggles, celebrate small wins, and encourage listeners to find meaning in everyday moments.

For those who haven’t listened:
This episode is a gentle, authentic reset—the Busby way. Come for the real talk about busy families and big transitions; stay for the down-to-earth encouragement to gather at the table, cherish what you have, and embrace each new day—“more better.”