It’s almost New Year, so hooray for the old one, welcome to the New one! Some folks, like those in Thailand, Singapore, Australia and the-almost-never-spoken-of Myanmar have already had their big countdown and fireworks display, while we here in EU will have to wait a few more hours. Just as every year, this evening many people will find strength and will to make grand (and often unrealized) plans for the upcoming annum. If you’re as keen to turn over a new calendar leaf as we are, but not exactly sure what to strive for, read on to find out what are the most common New Year’s Resolutions this year!

According to the  StatisticBrain research compilations, making health-related resolutions is an absolute favorite among most people:

1. Lose Weight

Top of the list is losing weight. With obesity being an ever-growing problem in most countries, it’s hard to pass that one by. It might be a cliché these days, but ads, TV and films do still promote the unrealistic image of a forever-young, smooth-skinned and skeletally thin model. The standard of beauty and healthiness is as unreachable for many as it has been twenty years ago, and the contrast is made all the more acute considering the awe-inspiring stories such as Lizzie Velasquez’s one; this being a story of a girl who has been dubbed by many a heartless media outlet as „the world’s ugliest woman” due to the way she looks, owing to an incredibly debilitating disease. But perhaps you’re not after shedding those extra pounds or gaining a few? Maybe what’s missing in your life is order?

2. Get Organized

I doubt there’s anyone out there who hasn’t, at one point or another, postponed something or put something off, never intending to see it through. Or perhaps you’ve accumulated a ton of useless junk that you promise yourself you’d get rid of come next cleaning day? Or, better still, you’re permanently out of time due to the way all duties and appointments just keep on piling up, and you just never seem to be able to find time for anything… Well, worry not, getting organized is 2^nd most popular New Year’s resolution out there. Just make sure you have the will to see it through this time :-).

3. Spend Less, Save More

Speaking of will, there’s an incredibly common problem among women; that of fighting the urge to buy something even when it’s not immediately needed. Historically speaking, greatest ‚mispurchases‚ have been done by men, but most persistent issue in many homes is overspending done by women, and mostly on the little things. ‚It’s just a tiny hanger, look how lovely it is!’ ‚It was on sale…’ ‚It’s really nice and cozy, and it just cost a few bucks!’ – sound familiar? If it does, maybe it’s time to make a resolution to stop wasting money and start saving it up. Though this particular resolution may make the next one impossible to achieve…

4. Enjoy Life to the Fullest

…especially if you already find your 9-to-5 a grueling ordeal and buying small beautiful things is your way of bringing a little cheer into the everyday monotony. It’s very hard to enjoy one’s life when there’s just so many obligations and monetary concerns. Maybe it’s high time to emulate Walden and go into the wild, live closer to nature? Or maybe you simply need a refreshing trip to feel that you’re alive? Whatever your dream, 2013 is the year to make it come true!

5. Stay Fit and Healthy

Ok, so you might not feel obese or underweight, may feel that you have order in your life and live it already to its fullest. Some of us may already envy you for being such a lucky individual, but you may still need something; perhaps the upcoming year is the year you start enjoying daily jogs or visits to the gym? It’s up to you to stay fit and healthy – and it’s the fifth most common resolution too!

6. Learn Something Exciting

Sixth spot is most often taken by older folks who find life a bit too dull. They’re not as adventurous as those who picked the resolution no. 4, but they would still like to engage in something boisterous or lively. Perhaps learn Chinese? Or how to mould clay? Maybe start a new and exciting hobby, like breeding scorpions or anacondas? 2013 is the year of the Snake, after all!

7. Quit Smoking

Perpetually on the lists of many smokers out there, this one is the toughest of them all. If you’ve ever smoked you know how hard it is to quit, and you’re no stranger to the way this nicotine demon just keeps coming back. Well, worry not; it is doable, and it’s possible; you just need a little encouragement and the will to do it, there’s really nothing more to it.

8. Help Others in Their Dreams

It’s very rare for folks to think about others in their New Year’s resolutions. In fact, helping others reach their goals is just 8^th on the list! Count yourself lucky and a very good person if that’s you. And make sure you actually make good on that particular promise, if not for yours, than for your loved ones’ sakes!

9. Fall in Love

It’s a modern world’s greatest tragedy that with so many people around we’re still such a lonely bunch of people. Make 2013 a year you fall madly, crazy, head over heels in love with someone!

10. Spend More Time with Family

…and if you already have a loving and caring family around you, cherish them. Just cause we’re still here today to celebrate New Year, doesn’t mean we – and our loved ones – are going to be around a year hence. Make sure you fulfill this particular resolution, even if it’s the last one on the list!

And above all:

HAPPY NEW YEAR – MAY 2013 BE BETTER, HAPPIER AND MORE PROSPEROUS THAN ANY BEFORE IT! 

VOCABULARY
countdown – odliczanie
fireworks display – pokaz ogni sztucznych
will – wola, siła woli
grand – wielki, okazały
unrealized – niezrealizowany
upcoming – nadchodzący
annum – rok
keen – skory, chętny
to turn over a new leaf – zacząć coś od nowa
to strive for sth – dążyć do czegoś
New Year’s resolution – postanowienie noworoczne
according to – zgodnie z, według
research – badanie
obesity – nadwaga
to pass sth by – ominąć coś
cliché – banał, truizm
ad – reklama
smooth-skinned – o gładkiej cerze
unreachable – niedosiężny
acute – dotkliwy
considering – zważywszy
dubbed – ochrzczony (mianem)
media outlet – media, kanał TV/radio, tytuł prasowy
debilitating – wyniszczający
disease – choroba
to shed – (z)rzucić
to postpone – opóźnić, odłożyć na później
to put sth off – zwlekać  z czymś, odłożyć coś na później
to see sth through – skończyć z czymś, wytrwać w czymś
to accumulate – zebrać
junk – śmieci
to get rid of – pozbyć się
appointment – umówione spotkanie
to pile up – nawarstwiać się, gromadzić się
urge – pokusa
mispurchase – tu: pochopny zakup
persistent – uparcie powtarzający się, nawracający
overspending – rozrzutność
familiar – znajomy
to enjoy life to the fullest – cieszyć się pełnią życia
9-to-5 – codzienna praca, praca od 8 do 4tej
grueling – wyczerpujący
ordeal – męka
cheer – radość
monetary concerns – względy finansowe
high time – najwyższy czas
to emulate – naśladować
fit – wysportowany
to envy – zazdrościć
individual – osoba, osobnik
jog – przebieżka
gym – siłownia
dull – nudny
to engage in sth – zająć się czymś
boisterous – żywiołowy, burzliwy
to mould clay – lepić z gliny
to breed – hodować
perpetually – stale
to be no stranger to sth – być z czymś dobrze zaznajomionym
doable – wykonalny
encouragement – zachęta
to count oneself lucky – uważać się za szczęściarza
to make good on one’s promise – spełnić swoją obietnicę
for sb’s sake – na czyjąś korzyść, dla czyjegoś dobra
bunch – gromadka
head over heels in love – zakochany po uszy
to cherish sb – troszczyć się o kogoś, radować czyjąś obecnością
hence – tu: później
to fulfill – wypełnić

-by Prochor Aniszczuk

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