Editorial: Too nice a time for new year promises

This New Year is going to be very different for me. I'm not making any New Year's resolutions.

There's two very good reasons - firstly, I'm pretty happy with my lot at the moment and secondly they never seem to work anyway.

According to the 2013 New Year's Survey from Colmar Brunton Research, released last night, us women are a predictable bunch.

While Kiwi men are more likely to want to buy a house, get a promotion or move overseas, we women are vain and tend to make body or health conscious goals, including increasing the amount we exercise, losing weight, eating a healthier diet and drinking more water.

In my experience, the peak of summer is the worst time to be making such promises to yourself. December and January are the most social months of the year - what a drag to have to decline food and beverages just because of a little promise you made to yourself.

According to the survey, Kiwis who have made New Year's resolutions have some big goals for 2013 but less than half of us are likely to make resolutions.

The survey revealed 18 to 29 year olds will be the most ambitious Kiwis in 2013, setting themselves up for a busy year with an average of 4.5 goals. They are more likely than any other age group to want to increase savings, buy a house, get married, get promoted or move overseas and they are the least bothered about having more holidays.

The top five goals for Kiwis in 2013 are increasing exercise, increasing savings, losing weight, eating healthier and reducing debt.

Yes, that all sounds great. But let's talk in February.