Top 2020 New Year’s resolutions revealed
The majority of Aussies have mapped out their goals for the year ahead according to new Finder research.
A Finder survey of 1,103 respondents revealed that an overwhelming 79% of Australians have committed to New Year's resolutions for 2020.
More than half (53%) want to lose weight or ramp up their fitness regime, while 46% will strive to improve their diet.
Travel is a big priority for more than a third (35%) of Aussies, while almost a quarter (22%) have vowed to get out of debt.
Kate Browne, personal finance expert at Finder, said that January is the perfect time to hit reset on old habits.
"The start of the new year is a great time to wipe the slate clean and get back on track with your goals.
"Some of us will go in all guns blazing, with plans to drop 10 kilos or travel the world for a year, but this can sometimes be unrealistic.
"Instead, try and make smaller, more achievable commitments. Sometimes it's the most basic changes that will have the biggest impact in the long run," Browne said.
Self-improvement is another area where Aussies are hoping to make progress over the new year. One in five (19%) say they want to get more sleep, while 17% want to achieve a better work-life balance.
Browne said that larger resolutions may take more than a year to conquer.
"Rome wasn't built in a day- starting a successful business or paying off the mortgage takes time. Ambitious goals like these will rarely be accomplished in a year.
"Create smaller milestones or targets to reach every few months. This will help you stay focussed and prevent resolution burnout. Think of your grand plan as a marathon, not a sprint," Browne said.
Top New Year's resolutions for 2020
| Resolution | Proportion of Aussies |
|---|---|
| Improve fitness/lose weight | 53% |
| Eat better | 46% |
| Travel/travel more | 35% |
| Get out of debt | 22% |
| Sleep more | 19% |
| Have a better work life balance | 17% |
| Find love | 10% |
| Take more risks | 9% |
| Quit/ reduce smoking | 9% |
| Volunteer | 8% |
| Quit/reduce drinking | 4% |
Source: Finder, December survey 2019
How to stick to your resolutions
- Take baby steps. You'll rarely kick major goals overnight. But this is no reason to give up. Break your big-picture goals down into smaller targets to hit throughout the year.
- Focus on one thing at a time. Setting multiple goals at once isn't always sustainable. Your motivation is likely to slip if you're aiming for too many things. Instead, focus on one or two key areas you'd like to improve on over the coming year.
- Check in with yourself. For larger goals, it's a good idea to check in every couple of months to see how you're tracking. Are you all set to meet your target, or do you need to step up? Regularly monitoring your progress can prevent you from falling off the wagon.