It has long been a tradition that every New Year, people make resolutions. A New Year’s resolution is a promise that a person makes to himself to start doing something good or refrain from doing something bad on the first day of the year as he or she endeavors to become better. Based on history, about a quarter of adults in the United States formed their own New Year’s resolutions after the Great Depression. Since then, people have learned to make it an annual tradition. In fact, by the beginning of the 21st century, about 40% of people around the world already know how to form or list down their own resolutions.  Ever since people began to make resolutions as they welcome the beginning of every year, a number of resolutions have become people’s favorites. Among the most common resolutions that people make every New Year are to become more charitable by donating to the poor, to become more assertive, or to become more environment-friendly. Other popular resolutions also include improving physical well-being by eating healthier food, losing weight, exercising more often, eating better, drinking less alcohol, quitting smoking, avoiding nail biting and getting rid of old bad habits. While some people focus on making resolutions that have something to do with their health, some make resolutions that have to do with improving their finances such as getting out of debt, saving money or making small investments. Making resolutions can be very exciting, but in reality, not all people are capable of fulfilling all their resolutions. Just a few weeks or months after the beginning of the year, most people tend to break their promises to themselves by doing things that fly in the face of their goals. Here is a list of 10 New Year’s resolutions that people normally fail to fulfill:

10. Drink Less

Photo Source: www.everettraptors.org

Drinking less is one of the most common resolutions that people make during New Year. After the morning of January 1, drunkards normally wish to drink less throughout the year, knowing that it is bad for the health. The bad thing is, more often than not, this resolution does not last for a year. People attend parties sometime in the next 364 days of the year and are tempted to drink a little, until they fail to realize how much they have already glugged down. For every hundred people that resolve to refrain from drinking alcohol, only a small number of them successfully make it.

9. Volunteer

Photo Source: www.broomecouncil.net

Even when it is already a new year, old problems still beset the world. People are aware of this, that is why many of them resolve to lend a helping hand by joining socio-civic organizations and help building houses, caring for animals, distributing food for the hungry or tutoring a student. Many people resolve to volunteer because by doing so, they are able to offer a part of themselves to others. However, it is a fact that even the most compassionate people can fall back on their commitments, primarily because finding time proves to be harder than finding money. Volunteering may sound very ideal for a resolution, but people often end up finding time to earn money than finding time to help others.

8. Be Less Stressed

Photo Source: news.softpedia.com

Because life today is way more stressful compared to the kind of life that people used to live before, many people resolve to be less stressed as they welcome New Year. Unfortunately, even without the extra stress associated with celebrating holidays, it is very easy for people nowadays to be overwhelmed by work and family obligations, or be carried away by a crisis. Hence, being stressed becomes a normal part of living. Being less stressed is a common resolution that people make during New Year, but it is often one of the resolutions that people break first.

7. Travel to New Places

Photo Source: www.hmsacasta.com

As people welcome the first day of the year, they resolve to see the world as a new world of opportunities, and so they wish to explore the world more through traveling. Every New Year, traveling is on almost every person’s agenda. As soon as the year opens, people plan to go to the most exotic destinations that they can visit via plane or simply take a road trip to a tourist destination that is nearest to their place. Because of budget constraints or problems with schedule, however, most people end up not fulfilling this resolution.

6. Spend More Time with Family

Photo Source: www.ymcachicago.org

These days, everybody seems to be very busy either with their own lives. Parents work double time to earn enough money so they can provide for the needs of their children. During New Year, many parents resolve to make more time for their children by engaging in more wholesome recreational activities with them. They find the beginning of the year an idea time to reconnect with their loved ones whom they haven’t seen in a while because of their busy schedules. Sad thing is, it turns out that work does not just disappear with the dawning of the year. At the end of the day, parents still spend more time at the office than at home with their children.

5. Get out of Debt and Save Money

Photo Source: www.examiner.com

December is typically a trying financial time for most people. During the holidays, people spend much more than ever as they buy gifts and food for their tables. After December, people welcome the year and vow to manage their finances more effectively by getting out of debt and saving more money. However, many of them fail to fulfill this goal and find themselves getting more debts instead. People often fall short when it comes to managing their finances because they fail to make specific budget-friendly rules. As they earn more, they feel like spending more.

4. Eat Healthier and Diet

Photo Source: kinkycurlycoilyme.com

As people consume more food during the holiday season, many of them realize how much weight they have gained in just a matter of days. People feel that they are free to eat a lot and become festive during the season. This is the reason why as January nears, they resolve to eat healthier and diet by having oatmeal for breakfast, fruit for lunch, or cook fish instead of red meat for dinner. The problem with this resolution is that most people take it too far by forcing themselves to restricting diets they cannot actually keep. So, not so long after January, this resolution ends up falling by the weight-side.

3. Learn Something New

Photo Source: eschooltoday.com

Learning something new gives people some sense of fulfillment. That is why every January, many people resolve to learn something new, such as learning how to play the piano, how to cook, or how to swim. For those who want to go the extra mile, learning a new language can be very exciting. While it is true that the process of discovering something new can be very enjoyable and rewarding, it is a fact that resolutions such as this are easier said than done.

2. Quit Smoking

Photo Source: www.antalik.com

People know how bad smoking can be for their health. When smoking becomes a habit, a person’s lifespan is significantly reduced as he develops lots of diseases that affect their organs and can even lead to their death. Some people vow to quit smoking because they know that it yellows their teeth, infiltrates all their clothing and irritates second-hand smokers. According to statistics though, only about 15% of people who resolve to quit smoking are actually able to make it until the end of the year.

1. Lose Weight and Get Fit

Photo Source: www.hulldailymail.co.uk

Losing weight and getting fit is probably the most common of all New Year’s resolutions. Following a season of much partying and eating, people vow to lose weight and get fit. This is one of the reasons why every January, fitness clubs offer deals and promotions to those who want to achieve a better shape. Unfortunately, statistics has it that 60% of those who avail of gym membership actually end up having poor attendance in their fitness classes and going back to their old shape as soon as the second month of the year.