New Year, new you?

Traditional New Year resolutions shunned in favour of reading and saving money

New technology and healthier lifestyles mean three quarters of Britons have scrapped "old fashioned" vows relating to smoking, alcohol and exercise.

Current top resolutions are reading more books and saving money, the poll of 2,000 people found.

The third biggest aim is losing weight while redecorating the house came fourth. In fifth place was taking better photographs on iPhones or iPads.

Quitting smoking and drinking less were only ranked as the 22nd and 26th most popular resolutions for 2013.

Other modern resolutions included reducing the amount of time spent on social networking sites and simply leaving work on time more often.

The research, which was commissioned by private gym chain LA fitness, found other modern resolutions include upgrading the car, topping up our wardrobe regularly and making more time for friends and family.

Now technology plays a huge part in the vows we make to ourselves on January 1st, with people pledging to cut the amount of times they text people, and even slashing the number of friends they have on Facebook.

Yesterday, Tony Orme, Marketing Director at LA fitness said: "The traditional resolutions we're used to hearing or even making ourselves are less prominent this year.

"It's clear that the majority of people are really feeling the pressures of a hectic lifestyle so are now trying to focus on making more time for themselves, their friends and family.

"But it's important to remember that taking time to exercise and eating a balanced, healthy diet not only give you more energy, but they also help to manage stress levels."

The results also unearthed a desire to spend more time face-to-face with people and reduce social networking time, while others vowed to spend less money on big coffee chains.

Watching reality TV and reading gossip are activities Britons are trying to cut down on, while many say this is the year they'll finally do something for charity.

And Brits are hoping 2013 will give them courage – listing some brave ambitions for 2013- from finally waving goodbye to a toxic relationship to saving a relationship or having a face to face with the boss.

The trend in long-term targets for the New Year, rather than typical resolutions comes after seven in ten people say they feel the old resolutions are a waste of time and never stuck to.

Indeed, the average person will break their new year's resolution in just under five weeks.

Instead, two thirds said their approach to 2013 is to make gradual improvements without 'putting a name on it' or setting unrealistic targets.

The biggest aims Britons shared were to feel physically fitter, followed by less stress, and feeling happier and more secure overall.

Two thirds aim to improve their fitness in the coming year and improve their body confidence.

The biggest celebrity inspiration for women comes in the figure of Cheryl Cole, followed by Holly Willoughby and Kelly Brook.

While men seek to emulate Daniel Craig, who beat David Beckham and David Haye to the top spot of the most inspiring physiques for guys.

Tony Orme added: "The responses we've had show people are more serious about making changes to their lifestyle, but realise it's about setting yourself realistic goals.

"It's no use setting your sights on a flat stomach if you've only just started exercising.

Set bite-size, manageable goals and reward yourself when you achieve them.

"Looking good on the outside and feeling good on the inside are always going to be on the wish list so it's good to take that drive we have at the start of the year and focus it on long-term changes that really last.

"When it comes to health and physical well-being, quick fixes will at best disappoint – the best improvements are most likely to be seen through long-term commitment and gradual change."

LA fitness has launched its New Year Health Resolutions Campaign across its 80 private health clubs, with a half price membership offer for those signing up in January for 2013.

The service also included 24-hour online support service for members to help motivate them beyond the first month of joining the club – ranging from work/life balance to how to mix up diet and exercise to develop an ongoing fitness routine.

TOP 40 RESOLUTIONS FOR 2013

1. Read more books
2. Save more money
3. Lose weight
4. Re-decorate
5. Take better photos
6. I want to go travelling
7. I want to sell old stuff I don't need on eBay
8. Buy a tablet
9. Organise photos – either get them printed, and/or delete poor ones and save good pics
10. Do something for charity
11. Spend more time with kids
12. Buy a Sunday paper
13. Less TV time
14. Connect my computer to my TV
15. Leave work on time more often
16. Less time on Facebook
17. Totally revamp my wardrobe
18. Try a new hairstyle
19. Get a six pack
20. Eat less chocolate
21. Socialise more in real life rather than Facebook
22. Drink less alcohol
23. Buy less coffee from Starbucks/ big chains
24. Start my own business
25. Tell someone I have feelings for them
26. Quit smoking
27. Gain a promotion
28. Learn how to use Twitter
29. Run a half marathon or full marathon
30. Call people more than text
31. Cut someone out of my life who isn't good for me
32. Meet online contacts in real life
33. Watch less reality TV
34. Text people less
35. I want to try to save my relationship
36. Try extreme sports
37. Get better at social networking
38. Stop contacting/ going back to an ex-partner
39. Have a face to face with my boss to find out where I stand
40. Do a bungee jump





Vocabulary:

a New Year resolution - un propósito

to shun (ignore, reject) - rechazar

to save money - ahorrar dinero

such as (like) - como

to quit smoking (give up, stop) - dejar de fumar

to replace - sostituir

to scrap (abandon) - desechar

a vow (a promise) v/n - un voto / prometer

current (adj) - actual

a poll - una encuesta

an aim - un objectivo

to come first, fourth ... - quedar primero, cuarto...

to rank - clasificar

an amount - una cantidad

a research (a study) - una investigación

to commission (order) - encargar

a chain - una cadena

to upgrade (improve) -  mejorar

to top up (add more) - rellenar

to play a part in stg (be partly responsible for) - contribuir

huge (enormous) - enorme / importante

to pledge (give word of honour) - dar la palabra

to text sb (send SMS) - enviar SMS

to slash (cut) - recortar

hectic (very busy) - frenético

a balanced diet - una dieta equilibrado

to unearth (discover) - desvelar

gossip v/n - cotillear, un cotilla, cotilleo

to cut down on stg (do stg less) - reducir

courage (bravery) - valentía, coraje

brave (courageous) - valiente

to wave goodbye to stg - lit. decir adiós con la mano / despedirse de

a trend - una tendencia

long-term - a largo plazo

a target - un objectivo

rather than (instead of) - en lugar de / más que

a waste of time - una pérdida de tiempo

to stick to stg - persistir

indeed -  de hecho (in other contexts "en efecto")

average - promedio / medio

approach - enfoque

instead - en cambio

to set a target (decide) - fijarse un objectivo

overall (complete) - en general

fit - en forma

to seek to - intentar

the top spot - el puesto número uno

to set your sights on stg - anhelar algo

a flat stomach - un vientre plano

bite-size - pequeño / de bocado

to reward - recompensar

drive (push) - determinación

to last - durar

a quick fix - una solución rapida

to disappoint - decepcionar / defraudar

a commitment (obligation) - un compromiso

membership - afiliación

to sign up - apuntarse

support - apoyo

beyond (outside limits) - más alla de

range from - desde...a...

ongoing (continuous) - en desarrollo

stuff - cosas

revamp - renovar

bungee jumping - puenting


Vocabulary Practice:

Complete the sentences with one of the above words or expressions (in its correct form):
  1. They carried out a ___ to find out people's opinions on their plans.
  2. The meeting was really long. It ___ for about 4 hours.
  3. It requires a lot of ___ to what you did. Most people would be too afraid.
  4. The ___ Spaniard goes out to eat twice a week and goes to the cinema once a month.
  5. ___ phone her, he wrote her a letter.
  6. If  you ___ in January, you will get an extra month of classes for free.
  7. What is all this ___ doing on the floor? Pick it all up.
  8. I think we should ___ the whole idea. It'll never work.
  9. We've had a ___ few weeks.Hopefully, things will be quieter soon.
  10. The government is unlikely to achieve its ___ of 2.5% annual growth.
  11. I've got too many ___ at the moment to be able to take on anything more.
  12. I was ___ to business class on my flight to Paris.

Write some example sentences with some of the other words.




Comments

Montse said…
Hi, Graham. Another more year ahead!!! How was your holiday at home? I hope it was fantastic.
I have the same resolution every year…To lose the weight I have gained during season Chritsmas!!! LOL.
And, what about your resolutions?

1. They carried out a poll to find out people's opinions on their plans.
2. The meeting was really long. It lasted for about 4 hours.
3. It requires a lot of courage to what you did. Most people would be too afraid.
4. The average Spaniard goes out to eat twice a week and goes to the cinema once a month.
5. Rather than phone her, he wrote her a letter.
6. If you sign up in January, you will get an extra month of classes for free.
7. What is all this stuff doing on the floor? Pick it all up.
8. I think we should scrap the whole idea. It'll never work.
9. We've had a hectic few weeks. Hopefully, things will be quieter soon.
10. The government is unlikely to achieve its aims of 2.5% annual growth.
11. I've got too many commitments at the moment to be able to take on anything more.
12. I was upgraded to business class on my flight to Paris.
More sentences about vocabulary:
- We’ll have to slash expenses if we want to make ends meet.
- I pledged her that I would keep her secret.
- If you want to lose weight it is important to maintain a balanced diet.
- They had to take a quick fix in order to save the company.
- Membership to the party increased a lot last year.
- If you want to get a flat stomach you’ll have to do sit-ups every day.
Graham said…
Hi Montse!

I enjoyed being at home spending time with my parents. I didn't do anything exciting at all but that's just what I wanted.

As for resolutions, I have a few ideas going around in my head but I haven't started any of them yet. Instead of "I will", I prefer to say "I should" or "I'd like to".


10. The government is unlikely to achieve its target of 2.5% annual growth.

Put "target aim" into the search bar at the top of the blog.


Maybe I didn't translate "to pledge" so well. It means to promise to do stg. (in a formal way)
eg The government pledged/made a pledge to lower taxes.
Maybe "comprometer" would be a better translation.

They had to come up with /find a quick fix in order to save the company.

Membership of the party increased a lot last year.

Good work, Montse!
Hi Graham! I have read the post and it's very interesting because I have discovered how many new year resolutions people want to achieve.
Graham said…
Hi Ana,

It's always good to see a keen student; especially at the start of a course.

Take a note of some of the expressions you feel could be useful.

I think this article is appropriate for post summer too. Infact, it's probably easier to stick to a resolution at this time of year.

Having said that, I turned vegetarian at the start of 2013. I think it was one of my wisest decisions.



Keep up the good work.

See you on Tuesday.
Anonymous said…
Hi Graham! It's Inés

1. poll
2. lasted
3. courage
4. average
5. Rather than
6. sign up
7. stuff
8. scrap
9. hectic
10. target
11. commitments
12. upgraded

More sentences:
-Everything she did last year dissapointed her parents.
-We should find a quick fix to this problem before your boss arrives.
-She hanged some posters on the street walls offering a reward for the person that found her lost dog.
-Dancing the Gangnam Style was a trend last year.

See you on Wednesday!
Graham said…
Hi Inés,

I'm finally getting around to correcting your comment.

Well there is nothing really to correct LOL.

Just that I'd say Gangnam Style was a "craze" rather than a "trend",

See you Wednesday.

Unknown said…
Hello Graham, I have read your post and I am surprised that the two main new resolutions for the new year are to read more and save money. Neither I expected the fourth purpose, decorate the house, nor the fifth, make better photos. It seems a little strange to me. I think it is more common to "give up smoking" or "Do more exercise". Although saving money is always good advice. I do not know ... I hope we have a good year.
Graham said…
Hello Oliver,

I think it is a good idea to make New Year resolutions; they don't necessarily have to require a lot of effort. Having said that, I have signed up for the Paris half marathon and the Loch Ness Marathon. I'll have to get in some training.

I am not so surprised to see redecorating and taking better photos in the top five. DIY is very popular in the UK and this is the age of the selfie and Instagram.


I have read your post and I am surprised that the two main resolutions for the new year are to read more and save money. Neither did I expect the fourth purpose /I didn't expect the fourth purpose either, to decorate the house, nor the fifth, to take better photos. It seems a little strange to me. I think it is more common to "give up smoking" or "do more exercise". Although saving money is always good advice. I do not know ... I hope we have a good year.