Feature 10 Most Popular New Year's Resolutions
What people really aspire to every 1st January
New Year’s resolutions. Those who haven’t reached self-satisfied nirvana have been making them year in, year out since 153 B.C. Mental health authorities believe them to be bad for our health, as they set us up for possible failure and depression if we don’t live up to our own aspirations. But where’s the fun in restraining our ambitious side? We have to have something to look forward to once the intense festive euphoria subsides, and a brand new, enhanced version of ourselves may as well be it. To give you some inspiration for self-improvement, here are 10 of the most popular New Year’s resolutions.
1 Quit Smoking
Recent studies have shown that men are much better than women at persevering with this one. Women tend to give in to the temptation of the cigarette after just seven days, while men can hold out for 20. However, we are not as weak a nation as that may suggest. The amount of UK smokers has been steadily declining for a while, especially since the public smoking ban was brought in back in 2007. It is now around 20% of adults, compared with about 45% back in the 70s.
2 Get Fit
Ah, gym memberships. All conceived from those generous January promotions. They reel in the weak and vulnerable in their most overfed, alcohol-poisoned states, and by the time the motivation to be buff wanes, you’re stuck in a monthly hell of guilt over wasted direct debits. Losing weight is the most popular resolution for women, with a third vowing to join a gym.
3 Eat Five A Day
Yes, we all know that five portions of fruit and veg a day are the simple secret to becoming super-healthy divine beings. Yet most of us fail to even get close to fulfilling that quota. Six out of 10 of us revert to our mortal diets just six days into January. Why? Well, we silly human folk are just programmed to want what we can’t have. Plus what we can’t have just tastes so damn good.
4 Be Rich
In order to pull off this one, the vast majority of people in the UK need to first get rid of debt; a total of £1,458bn of debt to be precise. About 7m of us have money troubles that are considered to be problem debt, and nearly a quarter hide this fact. Just don’t forget to think twice about purchases that could be considered luxuries…and remember that with all of this invaluable advice, Leeds Guide shouldn’t be put in that bracket.
5 Stop Getting Drunk
Alcohol; the cause of poor health and debt, yet also the remedy for it. Vicious circle, anyone? If you wish to escape it, or at least make it a little less, erm, vicious, just have three or four alcohol-free days per week and don’t exceed the 21 units for men or 14 for women. That’s your weekly limit everyone, not daily. And no, unfortunately you can’t save up for a week and use them all in one go. They’re no Clubcard points are they?
6 See Family More
Remember-families are for life, not just for giving you presents and getting merry with at Christmas. Many feel they must strive to spend more time with their loved ones all year round, but life just goes and gets in the way, as is its wont. Follow at least one of the pledges on this list and hey presto, with less fun stuff to do, no more excuses not to pop round to grandma’s.
7 Take Packed Lunches to Work
We keep getting told that 2010 is the year we start to climb out of the recession. However, January was just made for torturing us as we feel the pinch, credit crunch or not. Homemade sandwiches may be an anti-climax after all the excess of Christmas, but they will definitely help to ease the transition to payday. Women are shown to be better at this one than the lunch-splurging men.
8 Drink More Water
As with the fruit and veg, we all know the score on this but it just seems so difficult to keep up. Eight glasses of water every day are the key to better concentration, better skin, maintaining a healthy diet, more stamina…need we go on? Though again, we would all be much better at this had water’s ugly cousins coffee, alcohol and pop never been born.
9 Find A Dream Job
Apparently jobs and careers were set to be the most popular talking point over Christmas dinner 2009. Surveys show that one in five people are worried about their jobs, and 60% are considering a career change. For too long now, the employment crisis has meant that people have been urged to feel grateful simply for being employed, no matter what their occupation. Maybe this January will be the one when more people actually go through with their promise to follow their dreams. Wouldn’t that be lovely.
10 Enjoy Life More
Hmm, presumably the ones who resolve to do this one aren’t going to fret over most of the above! Not that we endorse getting drunk, or smoking, or gorging on great food with not a second thought for one’s health, of course. We’re just saying, are new year’s resolutions really anything more than just the result of a really bad hangover?!
Posted on Saturday 1st January 2000
Rebecca Ryder
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