Resolutions You’ll Actually Keep: Homesitting for a Happier, Healthier 2026
As the New Year begins, millions of Britons set ambitious goals to improve their health, wellbeing, finances, and lifestyle. According to YouGov*, 66% of adults list improving physical health as a top resolution, while 34% aim to enhance their mental wellbeing.
Other popular resolutions include travelling more, trying new experiences, enjoying life to the fullest, and spending more time on hobbies or personal interests. Becoming a homesitter can help people achieve all these resolutions from just one role.
Peter (56) and Pamela (58) McLoughlin, a retired couple from Doncaster, took up Homesitting in May 2025 and say they wish they had discovered the lifestyle sooner.
After decades of moving homes for Peter’s 24-year Army career and Pamela’s work as a veterinary assistant and for the MOD, the couple never had the opportunity to have pets of their own. Pamela explains: “We’ve never really had the chance to have pets because we were always on the move but homesitting has filled that gap for us completely.”
The couple signed up with UK’s leading Homesitting company Homesitters and each assignment they had undertaken has enabled them to explore new towns, villages, and countryside across the UK. Their new roles have fulfilled their desire to travel and try new experiences without the high cost of hotels or holiday rentals. Initially planning short UK breaks in Airbnb’s during their retirement, they found that homesitting offered the perfect mix of travel, companionship, and purpose.
Homesitting offers unique health benefits: caring for pets encourages daily activity, fresh air, and time outdoors, helping improve physical health while also reducing stress and boosting mental wellbeing.
The couple have found that aside from their pet care duties, there is plenty of downtime on assignments to enjoy their personal hobbies and interests.
Pamela says: “We absolutely love it. It’s everything we enjoy, animals, travel, time together all rolled into one.”
Peter adds: “We get to explore new places, spend time with animals and enjoy our favourite pastimes of cooking and doing sudoku.”
Living in a homeowner’s property while looking after pets and the home can also save significant money, a key resolution for many people looking to make their finances go further.
The couple say homesitting has helped them save money in retirement. Peter explains: “We’d planned to travel around and stay in different places, but now we don’t have to pay for accommodation. It’s a great way to see the country and have lovely breaks away without the expense. It’s helped us make our retirement savings go further.”
Last Christmas, Peter and Pamela spent their first Christmas as homesitters surrounded by 25 ducks, two dogs, 10 sheep, tropical fish and two horses. Pamela laughs: “A highlight for me was mucking out the horses on Christmas Day! Being away from home at Christmas feels completely normal for us now.”
They describe homesitting as opening a wonderful new chapter in their lives: “It’s the perfect mix of travel, animals and purpose. We honestly wish we’d known about it years ago and are planning to do it for many years to come.”
Ben Irvine, Managing Director of Homesitters Ltd, comments: “Homesitting appeals to people who want more from their retirement, more purpose, more activity, more travel and more enjoyment. It’s a role that naturally supports the top New Year’s resolutions we see year after year. Whether people are looking to improve their health, save money, or try something new, homesitting offers a fantastic way to start 2026 with a fresh perspective. We’re always looking for enthusiastic, reliable people to join our homesitting community, it’s a unique opportunity to travel, stay active, and make a real difference for homeowners and their pets.”
For more information about becoming a homesitter or arranging a homesitter, visit www.homesitters.co.uk or call 01296 630 730.