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LA Fitness Commissions Study on UK New Year ResolutionsJan 07, 2013 (Close-Up Media via COMTEX) -- LA Fitness announced that new technology and life's modern pressures mean over 60 percent of us no longer make traditional New Year's resolutions - instead we're promising to minimize the stressful aspects of life to create a better work-life balance. While Brits are still making traditional health and fitness related resolutions, with losing weight the third biggest aim,the results unveiled a host of new goals people are forming to help manage the pressures of a 'modern life'. According to a release, the research, commissioned by private gym chain LA fitness, found that quitting smoking and drinking less were predictable features, but more modern day New Year's resolutions included reducing the amount of time spent on social networking sites and simply leaving work on time more often. The dwindling number of smokers and the fact that a percentage of people are on year-round diets has sounded the death knell for the age-old resolutions we all once vowed to stick to - 75 percent no longer make a traditional resolution. Other modern resolutions include upgrading the car, topping up the wardrobe regularly and making more time for friends and family. LA Fitness said that many of the resolutions in the survey revolve around making the quality of life better and reducing stress levels with 23 percent of people saying they're planning to go travelling, nearly half (41 percent) want to save money and nearly half (45 percent) intend to read more books and buy a Sunday newspaper (11 percent) in 2013. Technology plays a huge part too, with people pledging to cut the amount of times they text people, and even slashing the number of friends they have on Facebook and planning to use Ebay to sell unwanted items. 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 trend in long-term targets for the New Year, rather than typical resolutions comes after seven in 10 people say they feel the old resolutions are a waste of time and never stuck to. The average person will break their New Year's resolution in under five weeks. Two thirds said their approach to 2013 is to make gradual improvements without 'putting a name on it' or setting unrealistic targets. The biggest celebrity inspiration for women comes in the figure of 1. Cheryl Cole, followed by 2. Holly Willoughby and 3. Kelly Brook. Men seek to emulate 1. Daniel Craig, beating 2. David Beckham and 3. David Haye to the top spot of inspiring physiques for guys. LA fitness noted that it 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. Top 40 Resolutions for 2013 -Read more books -Save more money -Lose weight -Re-decorate -Take better photos -I want to go travelling -I want to sell old stuff I don't need on EBay -Buy a tablet -Organise photos: either get them printed, and/or delete poor ones, save good pics -Do something for charity -Spend more time with kids -Buy a Sunday paper -Less TV time -Connect my computer to my TV -Leave work on time more often -Less time on Facebook -Totally revamp my wardrobe -Try a new hairstyle -Get a six pack -Eat less chocolate -Socialise more in real life rather than Facebook -Drink less alcohol -Buy less coffee from Starbucks/ big chains -Start my own business -Tell someone I have feelings for them -Quit smoking -Gain a promotion -Learn how to use Twitter -Run a half marathon or full marathon -Call people more than text -Cut someone out of my life who isn't good for me -Meet online contacts in real life -Watch less reality TV -Text people less -I want to try to save my relationship -Try extreme sports -Get better at social networking -Stop contacting/ going back to an ex-partner -Have a face to face with my boss to find out where I stand -Do a bungee jump ((Comments on this story may be sent to [email protected])) |