They are booming again at the beginning of the year, the New Year’s resolutions. Every year, a large proportion of good intentions are health-related. This is why some health insurance companies regularly ask their members shortly before the end of the year what their plans are for the new year. DAK-Gesundheit has once again conducted a survey on resolutions for 2022 . Good intentions are particularly popular with younger people in 2022. Are you still missing a resolution for more vitality, ecological awareness and joie de vivre? How about “drink more water”?
New trend for 2022: stress reduction and more time for family and friends
According to the latest DAK study on resolutions for 2022, the trend is towards less stress, more time for family and friends and climate-friendly behavior, especially among younger members. More than 1,000 respondents took part in the representative Forsa survey. One in two people in the 14 to 29 age group are looking ahead to 2022 and setting themselves conscious goals. Among 30 to 44-year-olds, only 37% made a resolution for 2021 – good intentions seem to lose their significance with increasing age. The current coronavirus pandemic is also influencing good intentions. Due to the lockdown and contact restrictions, every second person found it more difficult to implement their plans this year.
In the list of good intentions for 2022, more time with family and friends and stress reduction top the list for all age groups with 64 percent of respondents. Younger people in particular want to spend more time with family and friends. In the 45 to 59 age group, people would like to relax more in the new year and plan to avoid or reduce stress (68 percent). This wish is followed by the 55 percent of people aged 60 and over; environmentally and climate-friendly behavior is popular among older people aged 60 and over.
Popular resolutions for 2022: less cell phones, computers and internet
It was the eighth time that DAK asked about the use of digital media in connection with New Year’s resolutions. Eight years ago, 15 percent wanted to limit their online presence, but this figure has now risen to 30 percent. This means that one in five people plan to spend less time online. Among teenagers and young adults between the ages of 14 and 29, the desire to limit their online presence increased by 4 percentage points, but particularly strongly among 30 to 44-year-olds (plus 12 percentage points). Not going online is also a health issue. This is because offline times are often more relaxed, promote the ability to concentrate, take the strain off the eyes and therefore benefit health.
The classic resolutions: Eat, drink, health, sport
For 2022, many people are once again resolving to eat more healthily, exercise more, lose weight or cut back on unpleasant habits such as smoking or drinking alcohol regularly. Of these, 10 percent would like to give up smoking, 16 percent would like to drink less alcohol and one in three would like to lose weight. Increased exercise is on the list of resolutions for 59 percent of those surveyed. 50 percent of all respondents are aiming for a healthier diet. This also includes healthy drinking habits. Drinking more water regularly also saves calories and makes you more resilient during sporting activity. A glass of water can also be a good alternative to drinking alcohol when eating together or at social events. So the resolution to drink more water regularly benefits several other resolutions at the same time.
A healthy, ecological drinking resolution for 2022: Drink tap water! If you live in a region that has good tap water (and most of Germany does), you not only save yourself carrying heavy crates of glass bottles or huge mountains of unhealthy plastic bottles, but also save a lot of money. This would be an ecological, economical and healthy resolution for the new year.
We wish you ALL THE BEST for 2022!
Bildquelle: pixabay
