New Year’s resolutions: For those who’ve made them, the week that’s passed probably feels like a month already.
Most of us by now will have broken our vow to quit smoking or drinking, and it’s pretty obvious that new gym membership will never get signed.
But how many of us have actually set a new target for 2015? And how many of us can truthfully say we have successfully stuck to our goals so far?
We went out to see how the people of Manchester are getting on in their fight against their vices.
Did you make any New Year’s resolutions?
| Yes | No |
| 13% | 87% |
Aaron Marner, 24, a sales executive from Salford said: “If you’re not happy in your life you’ve got to do something about it. Mine is to find a new job. I’m not scared to find something new.
“I don’t believe that just because it’s a new year you should quit smoking, why shouldn’t you go to the gym in December?”
‘HASN’T GONE ANYWHERE’: Aidan Daly says don’t aim too high
Aidan Daly, 44, from Manchester, agrees. He said: “I had several resolutions; to properly knock down the drinking, eat healthily and get back into exercise. It hasn’t gone anywhere so far.
“It’s early days, only the first week in January. You shouldn’t make goals or objectives you can’t keep. Don’t aim too high – do a few things a few steps at a time.”
Chelsea Maher, 23, a retail assistant from the city centre, said: “I didn’t really make any but it’s the same stuff all the time. One of mine was to stop smoking casually but I’ve broken that already.
“Eat healthier I suppose, because I eat a lot of junk food – it’s mostly Monster Munch and chocolate that I live on, so more fruit basically.”
‘QUIT QUITTING’: Russian tourist Daria Kovalova isn’t bothering
It is the more peculiar resolutions that interest Daria Kovalova, a 24-year-old tourist from Russia.
She said: “The weirdest one I ever heard was to quit quitting. I like the idea of it because it’s really positive and hopefully it can help influence positive change.
“I wish the weather could make New Year’s resolutions.”
But most people we spoke to believe the idea is poorly conceived, with many instead opting to make decisions during the year itself rather than from January 1.
Katy Baird, 48, and Sarah Ricketts, 21, both from Stockton, think it’s a waste of time.
Katy said: “I don’t make any resolutions because I don’t see the point. I understand why people do make them but if you’re going to do it then you can do it during the year.
“I gave up smoking for a year before Christmas – probably that would be my resolution.”
‘MAKE THEM CLOSER TO FEBRUARY’: 50-year-old Swinton teacher Shirley Shortman has made a resolution not to make resolutions
Shirley Shortman, a 50-year-old teacher from Swinton, said: “I used to make them every year and then I made a New Year’s resolution not to make New Year’s resolutions because I never stick to them.
“January is the worst month of the year, so close to Christmas. I think they should be made closer to the beginning of February. You’ll be more likely to stick to them.”
And others, like Phil Tonge, a retailer in Manchester, believe they have reached the age where they don’t believe in them anymore.
Mr Tonge, 38, said: “I used to have them but I never stick to them. It was always stuff like giving up smoking, losing weight but I’ve got to the point where it doesn’t make much difference to my life.”
‘GOOD FOR SOME PEOPLE’: … but not for me, reveals Phil Tonge
“I think it’s good for some people to give you a target or a goal but I’m self-motivated anyway so that’s all I need,” said Mr Tonge.
Lucy Royales, a 23-year-old visual merchandiser from Oldham, said: “They’re a load of rubbish. None of my friends have made any either, to be fair. They just get broken in the first month.
“If you want to change, you should change during the year rather than after it.”
Julian Joseph, 17, a student from Rochdale College, said: No New Year’s resolutions for me because I’ll only commit to something if I’m going to stick to it.
“Most people break them eventually. I don’t want to be one of those people. Plus, you have to wait a year for it to come true anyway.”
‘KEEP THEM TO MYSELF’: Nick Rudovsky doesn’t want to ruin his chances of success
Meanwhile, Nick Rudovsky, 38, a cook from Trafford, believes in the principle of the idea but is somewhat more coy about his goals.
He said: “I think New Year’s resolutions are a good idea in a way because whatever negative things are going on in your life, you can always start again.
“I do have some but I’d rather just keep them to myself because every year I make them and I tell all my friends, all my family, and they never seem to materialise.”
Main image courtesy of Palo, with thanks
