Alva Review-Courier -

By Marione MartinI hope everyone had a good Christmas holiday. Probably my most unique gift was a watercolor painting done by my youngest granddaughter. She’s taking an art class in high school, and this was a simple still life study of a pear. She captured proportion, subtle coloration, light and shadow.

My Connecticut granddaughter sent a family photo (she, her husband and their dogs). Jolie made the Christmas design with the dogs featured on ornaments and the group in front of a fireplace. Her husband Matt made the frame on his 3-D printer.

Some of the best gifts are ones you would never think of putting on a wish list. That includes the above and the cellphone cleaning kit Jessica gave me. My daughter also received a framed photo from Jolie and Matt. She has been asking them for an updated photo so I was the beneficiary of Marisa’s wish list.

With the upcoming New Year’s Day holiday, this week seems like one extended holiday. News is difficult to come by with few meetings, no sports and school out until January.

This is the time some people start thinking about New Year’s resolutions. Not me. I stopped making those years ago. But many people still uphold the tradition. Here’s an interesting survey I found:

A new survey from Forbes Health/OnePoll of 1,000 U.S. adults (conducted on Oct. 23, 2023) looked at Americans’ attitudes surrounding resolution setting and what types of goals were prioritized.

Interestingly, the survey highlighted a couple of standout themes: The most commonly selected new year’s resolution for 2024 among respondents was fitness, which contrasts with findings from the previous year. The previous Forbes Health/OnePoll survey in 2022 showed that many people were prioritizing their mental health, rather than their physical health, in their resolutions for 2023.

Specifically, the recently conducted survey found:

• 62% say they feel pressured to set a new year’s resolution.

• Women (64%) feel slightly more pressured to set a resolution than men (60%).

• Overall, 48% of people say improving fitness is a top priority in 2024 while 36% cite improved mental health as a top resolution (respondents could select more than one).

• 55% say physical and mental health are of equal importance.

• More people cite improved fitness as a top resolution (48%) compared to improved finances (38%), improved mental health (36%), weight loss (34%) and improved diet (32%).

• Women (36%) and men (36%) equally cite improved mental health as a top resolution for 2024. However, women are more likely to focus on fitness (52%) in 2024 compared to men (42%).

• 20% of respondents say they keep themselves accountable when it comes to sticking to their goals. This is a massive drop compared to last year’s survey, for which 77% of respondents said they would keep themselves accountable.

Overall, 80% of respondents feel confident in their ability to reach their goals, and only 6% lack this confidence.

Men are slightly more confident (82%) than women (79%) in their ability to reach their goals.

49% plan on using a fitness app for assistance in sticking to their resolutions.

Generally, apps are the most popular tool used to maintain accountability. The most popular tools are:

• Diet program (46%)

• Gym membership (43%)

• Habit tracking app (40%)

• Diet/calorie counter app (33%)

• Meditation app (33%)

86% of respondents say their new year’s resolution will have a positive impact beyond 2024.

29% say that their resolution will have a positive impact for one to two years, and 57% believe it’ll have an impact for three years or more.

Most Common New Year’s Resolutions

For 2024, the Forbes Health/OnePoll survey found some resolutions to be more common than others, with the most popular goals including:

• Improved fitness (48%)

• Improved finances (38%)

• Improved mental health (36%)

• Lose weight (34%)

• Improved diet (32%)

Less popular resolutions include traveling more (6%), meditating regularly (5%), drinking less alcohol (3%) and performing better at work (3%).

Suggested Resolutions

I looked at several suggested lists of resolutions, but the following from Indeed caught my eye because I have the first one down. Remember that Indeed is devoted to matching people with job openings so a lot of these are career oriented.

1. Read more. Reading is a great way to stimulate your mind and learn new things. If you don't enjoy reading books, consider reading anything you can, including articles or newspapers. Reading can improve your vocabulary and expand your knowledge base, making it a valuable activity.

2. Take a break from social media. Social media is a necessary tool for communication, but sometimes it's healthy to take a break from it. Social media can be a distraction from work, and it can take up free time that you may want to spend in other ways. It may also contribute to negativity in your life. Consider tracking or limiting your screen time to help you reach this goal.

3. Volunteer. Volunteering is a great way to enrich your personal life and your work life. You may make new friends through volunteering, and making a difference in your community can positively affect personal and professional growth.

4. Practice gratitude. Practicing gratitude is a great habit to form that allows you to focus on the good things in your life rather than the negative. By embracing this positive mentality, you may feel more inspired to appreciate your current skills and achievements or set new goals. Attempt to include gratitude reflection as a part of your daily routine.

5. Practice healthy sleeping habits. Your sleeping habits can have a great impact on your personal life and your career. Getting the recommended amount of sleep can boost productivity, and can also improve your mood.

6. Practice good eating and drinking habits. Stay hydrated throughout the day and get enough nutrients to stay energized and boost your productivity. Consider swapping your second cup of coffee for a glass of water instead. You may be tempted to skip breakfast in favor of sleeping in or to work through lunch to finish a project, but making time for these meals can result in heightened energy and concentration throughout the day.

7. Keep your space organized. Whether you work from home or in an office building, keeping your space organized can improve your productivity at work. Having a clean and organized workspace can eliminate stress and make it easier to focus on the tasks at hand. Take some time each day or set a specific time every week to organize your desk and tidy up your workplace.

8. Commit to learning. Learning is a constant process, whether you are in school or have graduated. Make an effort to learn about things that you have a personal interest or things that might benefit your career. You can attend lectures, read articles or just engage in conversations to learn. Committing yourself to active learning can help expand your personal knowledge and may even lead to the discovery of a new talent or interest.

9. Start a hobby. Make time for the things you enjoy to relax and feel more fulfilled in your personal life. Consider rededicating yourself to an old hobby that you haven't had time for, or starting a new hobby that you've been wanting to try. Whether you choose baking, knitting, painting or kickboxing, making a hobby a priority is a rewarding goal to set for the new year.

10. Create a new budget. It's beneficial to reevaluate your budget regularly, and the new year is a great time to do this. Determine what has been working and what hasn't been working from your previous budget and create a new one that uses the positive aspects of your old budget and implements new tactics for success. Ensuring you stick to your budget can help you meet your financial goals and start the new year with a well-developed savings plan.

As I type this at my desk, I’m starting to think about No. 7. Maybe you’ll find something on this list to work on during 2024.