In an earlier post [read here], I discussed why many of the resolutions we make for the new year usually end up failing by the time spring rolls around. Now that the ball has dropped and we are a few weeks into 2012, I hope that, if you made a resolution, you have been able to stick with it.
The Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index recently conducted a poll asking it’s consumers what their resolutions for 2012 are. Here is a list of the top-3 resolutions they have made for this year:
Spend More Time with Family & Friends – More than 50% vowed to appreciate loved ones and spend more time with them
Photo © by Tetra Pak
I was so glad to see this at the top of the list. We just got through with the biggest commercialized holiday of the year and a majority of people still place a high value on appreciating loved ones.
Get Finances in Order and Get Out of Debt – This used to be lower on people’s lists, but with the current economic situation and the stress many feel about money, 47% of Americans polled resolved to get a handle on their finances
This resolution is pretty much a given for most. I hope that many continue to work on this resolution all year long and not just for a few months.
Lose Weight (and Exercise More) – Over two-thirds of adult Americans are either overweight or obese, so it is not too surprising to find that 42% of them made a resolution to lose weight and exercise more regularly
Like handling money better, this resolution is almost a given for most every year. My wife attends weight watchers and says it is so interesting that once January comes the attendance at these meetings usually doubles or triples but, by the time summer rolls around, it is back down to a much smaller audience. It is easy to get motivated in January after most of us have gorged ourselves from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve but so much harder to stick with this after a few months have passed.
Other popular resolutions include quitting smoking, getting organized, learning new skills, volunteering, drinking less, and enjoying life more.
I think all of these are great goals and, if one of these happens to be yours, I wish you the best of luck and success. Like I mentioned in my previous post, I am not a big fan of New Year’s Resolutions because I think many just make them because it is the thing to do at this time of the year. Many make blanket statements without giving much thought to how they are going to achieve a particular goal. I was surprised to learn that nearly 40% of people who make resolutions are still successful after six months. That does so there is some merit to making a resolution if you go about it the right way and have some specific steps you are going to take to achieve your goals. Whatever your goals are for 2012 I wish you the best of luck and remember, there are 12 months in a year – if you happen to slip up in January you still have 11 months to get it right!
