Community Corner
New Year’s Resolutions: Love Them or Hate Them?
What do you think was the No. 1 resolution set in 2012?
Every year, January 1 brings a fresh start. It’s a new year full of promise and possibilities. It’s 365 days not yet tarnished or tainted by missteps, stress and misunderstandings. For some, there is excitement and new chances and choices. For others, it might mean a return to more of the same. Many use the new year as a time to set goals and resolutions. How about you?
According to the University of Scranton and published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology, 45 percent of Americans usually make New Year’s resolutions while 17 percent infrequently make them. And 38 percent absolutely never make resolutions.
Can you guess what the No. 1 New Year’s resolution is? That’s right, lose weight. The No. 2 spot: get organized. That’s a big one on my list as I sit looking at the piles of papers that only grow, the dozens of pens rolling across my desk. The photos to be filed in photo albums. The unfinished projects to discard or complete.
Here’s the top 10 list of New Year’s resolutions from 2012, according to the University of Scranton research.
- Lose Weight
- Getting Organized
- Spend Less, Save More
- Enjoy Life to the Fullest
- Staying Fit and Healthy
- Learn Something Exciting
- Quit Smoking
- Help Others in Their Dreams
- Fall in Love
- Spend More Time with Family
For those who set New Year’s resolutions, USA.gov has links to resources to help those people achieve their goals, whether eating healthier food, taking a trip, or getting a better job.
Psychologist Ray B. Williams writes about why New Year’s resolutions fail, but he also offers tips to help make those resolutions work. Make it a year-long process, he says, and take small steps. Have an accountability buddy. And have fun.
Do you make New Year’s resolutions? What is your No. 1 resolution? How successful were you with resolutions set at the beginning of 2012?