December 31st 2024.
As we approach the year 2025, many of us may be thinking about New Year's Resolutions. It's a common tradition to set goals and make changes at the start of a new year. However, we all know how hard it can be to actually stick to these resolutions. Just like in Bridget Jones' Diary, where Bridget is seen smoking and drinking on New Year's Day despite resolving to give them up.
But some argue that we don't need to wait for January 1st to make a change. We can start running, learning a new skill, or increasing our step count at any time. And it's also okay if we don't want to set any specific resolutions or goals. Simply getting through the year is an achievement in itself.
According to a new YouGov poll, only 27% of Britons reported that they will be making New Year's Resolutions for 2025. This number is even lower for older age groups, with just 22% of 45-54-year-olds and 16% of those over 55 setting resolutions. However, the most common resolution for 2025 is to spend less, with 21% of people aiming to make gains in this area.
Improving fitness and committing to exercise is also a popular goal, followed by learning new skills and spending more time with friends and family. But as we reflect on the resolutions we set and actually kept in 2024, we can see that many of us had a common theme of wanting to read more. And it seems like we succeeded in this goal.
Danni, a 27-year-old from London, made a simple resolution to read one book per month. She used to read all the time as a child, but as life got busier, she lost touch with this hobby. By setting a manageable goal, Danni was able to reconnect with reading and even surpassed her initial goal by finishing 12 books and starting two more.
Sonya, a 32-year-old also from London, had a difficult year in 2024 after losing her grandfather. Her resolution was to have more fun, which she achieved by learning new skills, saying yes to new experiences, and traveling to 12 different countries. She also set boundaries, stepped away from negative influences, and focused on her goals. Sonya believes that in a world full of distractions, it's important to not forget to have fun and enjoy life.
Haddy, a 47-year-old from Peterborough, wanted to work out more at the gym. She found a way to make this goal more achievable by switching to a cheaper 24-hour gym and focusing solely on exercise. By stripping away other distractions, Haddy was able to go to the gym four times a week and even discovered a love for dancing on the treadmill at 6am.
Alice, a 28-year-old from Hertfordshire, wanted to learn how to shuffle cards. She spent four months practicing every day using YouTube tutorials and now feels accomplished and proud of her new skill.
Rebecca, a 30-year-old from London, used to love reading as a child but found that it had fallen by the wayside as an adult. So, for 2024, she set a goal to read 10 books in 12 months. Not only did she stick to this resolution, but she also exceeded it by reading 15 books. Rebecca found that reading helped her disconnect from technology, improved her sleep, and even influenced her writing as she explored different authors' styles and vocabulary choices.
Ella, a 28-year-old from Leeds, had a significant amount of credit card debt that was causing her stress and anxiety. She made the difficult decision to move back in with her mom and was able to pay off all her debt by summer 2024. Now, she has an emergency fund and has developed better saving habits for the future.
As we enter the year 2025, let's remember that it's not just about setting resolutions and achieving them. It's about finding joy, making positive changes, and taking care of ourselves. And if we stumble or don't stick to our resolutions, that's okay too. We can always start again and make progress at any time.
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[Generative AI is experimental.]
