The most popular New Year resolutions at the start of the New Year are (in no particular order):
- Lose weight and get fit
- Quit smoking
- Learn something new
- Eat healthier and diet
- Get out of debt and save money
- Spending more time with family
- Travel to new places
- Be less stressed
- Volunteer more
- Drink less
Losing Weight and Getting Fit
This resolution is due to all the over eating on chocolate and cookies over the Christmas time. Each January, fitness clubs offer deals and promotions for those who want to get fit. However, by mid-February it’s recorded that around 60% of gym memberships go unused and attendance is back to normal.
Quit Smoking
Only an estimated 15% of people who try to quit manage to stay cigarette-free six months later.
Learn Something New
Initially, the thought of learning a new skill is exciting and rewarding as well as enjoyable. However, after a while, you’re likely to realise it takes up too much of your time and that, for example, ordering out is a lot easier than learning how to cook properly.
Eat Healthier and Diet
The problem with this resolution is that people take it too far by forcing themselves onto restricting diets they can’t possibly keep. It’s more likely to last if you try dieting in moderation.
Getting out of Debt
December is always the most budget-unfriendly month of the year. New Year is always the turning point for everyone and is where we all decided that this next year will be the turning point when regarding our finances. However, the majority of us find ourselves spending our money again before we know it.
Spending More Time with the Family
The beginning of a new year is always an ideal time to reconnect with the family you haven’t seen for months. But by the time February comes along you realise that you haven’t spent any extra time with your family—probably because you don’t keep in contact with those specific family members for a reason!
Travelling
A new year is always a good time to plan your year in terms of travelling, what new exotic destinations attract your attention. However, at the time you’re skint from Christmas and all the parties in December so any travelling will have to hold off till later in the year but by then your plans and ideas may have completely changed.
Being Less Stressed
Work and family obligations can always be overwhelming, especially in the new year when all the family want to get together. Less stress can make you healthier and happier but unfortunately is going to be one of the first resolutions you break. You feel obligated to plan out your entire year within the first 24 hours of the new year and that is definitely not helping your stress levels.
Volunteering
To start the new year correctly, you might want to resolve in a helping hand… Perhaps helping to build a house or care for an animal or help at a homeless shelter. Volunteering is a very rewarding resolution if you stay committed. But even the most compassionate of us can fall back on our commitments.
Drinking Less
Drinking less is always good for you regarding your health and your wallet! However we just can’t seem to help ourselves and most of us just stick to dry-January—which seems much more reasonable!
