For the dawn of the New Year, tradition has people across the country determining goals to meet in a year’s time. MyGoals.com, the Web’s premier site for setting and reaching personal and professional goals, announces its annual predictions for the types of resolutions people are expected to make during the coming New Year. The most popular resolutions are to lose weight, to start a business and to pay off debt.
According to an anonymous, random sample of goals people have set at the site, the 2007 New Year’s resolutions are expected to break down as follows:
New Year’s Resolution
2006
2007*
% Change
Health & Fitness
31%
27%
-4
Personal Growth & Interests
10%
15%
+5
Personal Finance
15%
15%
0
Career
15%
12%
-3
Education & Training
9%
9%
0
Home Improvement & Real Estate
5%
7%
+2
Time Management & Organization
8%
6%
-2
Family & Relationships
5%
5%
0
Recreation & Leisure
2%
5%
+3
100%
101%**
*Projected
**Does not equal 100% due to rounding
People Opting to Work on Their Homes and Themselves
“In 2007, people are going to spend a lot of time working on improving their homes and themselves,” said Greg Helmstetter, CEO of myGoals.com.
While health and fitness are always the most common category of goals tracked by myGoals.com, the past year has shown a decrease in that category's popularity, back down to normal levels after a two-year jump above normal. Categories showing increased interest this year are home improvement and personal growth.
“People are a little less concerned about job security, their waistlines, or buying a house. Instead, they're seeking ways to make themselves feel fulfilled and happy,” said Helmstetter. “This is good news. When personal growth becomes a priority, it means that people are confident that their lower-level, basic priorities such as finances and health are under control.”
This New Year, 15% of all resolutions are expected to relate to Personal Growth and Interests, up from 10% last year. This category comprises a wide range of goals, including improving one's mental outlook, appearance, social skills, spirituality and spending time doing things such as reading, writing, and participating in one’s community.
Improving Homes Instead of Buying Them
Another notable shift is a decrease in goals related to buying real estate such as homes, second homes and investment properties. This trend is offset by a corresponding increase in goals related to home improvement.
“It's just like what the economists tell us,” said Helmstetter. “When people stop buying houses, they concentrate on improving the house they’ve already got.”
Last year, 30% of all real estate-related goals were to buy a home, whereas 45% were to improve a home. This year, only 9% of real estate goals will relate to buying a home, whereas a massive 64% will involve improving a home.
While home improvement is often a form of financial investment, as a goal category it includes some benefits that are not unlike those seen in goals related to personal growth.
“Improving your home — whether you do it with your own two hands or hire professionals — can be an extremely challenging and rewarding experience,” says Helmstetter. “It’s a very creative process, always involves learning, and results in happiness and other tangible benefits that will surround you every day for years to come. All in all, putting money, hard work and love into your home is not only good for the home, it’s good for the family and good for the soul.”
Breakdown of Resolutions by Category
2007 New Year resolutions are expected to break down as follows:
Health & Fitness Resolutions: weight loss, general fitness, exercise, diet and nutrition (non-weight loss), health and wellness
Personal Growth & Interests: attitude, motivation and state of mind, improving appearances, social skills, writing, hobbies, activities and interests, reading, spirituality, community
Career Resolutions: new job and promotion, entrepreneurship, job tasks and performances (non-sales), income, sales, authorship and publishing, other
Personal Finance Resolutions: debt retirement, income, save money and prepare for retirement, wealth, investing, creating a budget, other
Time Management and Organization Resolutions: getting organized, time management, cleaning and reducing clutter, goals about setting goals, projects
Family and Relationship Resolutions: relationships and friends, social skills and image, family
Education and Training Resolutions: learn skill or take course, degrees, success in school, test, certificate or license, other
Home Improvement and Real Estate Transactions: home improvement, buying a home, selling a home, moving, other
Recreation and Leisure Resolutions: travel and vacations, sports, outdoor activities, other
For more information about trends of resolutions for the 2007 New Year, please visit www.mygoals.com.
