How to Talk About New Year's Resolutions [Updated]

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For many people, a new year is a chance to make important changes and improvements in their lives. Some want to try something new, while others want to stop doing something bad or unhealthy.

These goals and hopes for the new year are called "New Year's resolutions," and they are a very popular conversation topic in the first few weeks of January.

Perhaps you have some resolutions of your own, or maybe you would just like to chat with friends about theirs. To help you do that, let's look at some common resolutions and ways to discuss them.

The Most Popular New Year’s Resolutions

Here is a list of some of the most popular New Year's resolutions people in the US made for 2024. There's a good chance the things listed here are also common choices in your country.

Let's use this list to explore different ways of talking about goals for the new year. Notice that there are many ways to do it, including phrases like:

"My resolution is to ~"
"I'm planning/aiming to ~"
"I want to ~"
"I'm going to ~"
etc.

Save more money / spend less money

The beginning of the year is often when people take a close look at their finances and decide if they need to make changes. This is especially true if any major events have happened that affect their income or employment status. For example, inflation has been a big problem in countries around the world in the years after the Covid-19 pandemic.

My resolution is to save a bigger portion of my salary every month.
I'm planning to eat out less and save money by cooking at home.
My resolution is to spend less money on video games this year.

Exercise more

Getting more exercise is often at the top of popular resolution lists. Many people find it difficult to stay motivated to work out, especially if they have a very busy or stressful life.

My new year's resolution is to exercise more and get in shape.
I'm resolving to hit the gym at least twice a week this year.
I'm going to get off the couch and onto an exercise bike!

Lose weight

Obesity is a growing problem around the world, and losing weight is a lot harder than gaining it! So it's no surprise that "slimming down" is the top goal for many when it's time to make resolutions.

This goal may include more specific targets than simply exercising more. For example, people may want to lose a certain number of pounds/kilograms or be able to fit a particular size of clothing.

I want to lose at least 20 pounds this year.
My goal is to reach a size 8 by the summer.
Jim can't fit his jeans anymore, so he's resolving to go on a diet and slim down.

Change or improve one’s career

In addition to personal improvement, people also aim for professional development as a new year begins. That could mean doing things like applying for a new job or doing training that can help them get a higher salary.

My girlfriend wants to get 800 on her TOEIC test this year.
My goal is to get certified as a yoga instructor before the year is over.
This year, I'm finally going to leave this boring job and find something better.

Spend more time with family and friends

While some people want to focus more on their work, others may feel like their job is already taking too much of their time away from loved ones. For these people, the new year is a chance to change things.

My resolution is to spend more quality time with my family.
I almost never see my friends these days. I want to hang out with them more often this year.
I'm resolving to not be a workaholic in 2025.

Start a new hobby or learn a new skill

Are you interested in scuba diving, painting or learning a foreign language? What's stopped you from giving it a try? The new year is when many people decide to finally get started.

This year, I'm going to take a pottery class at my local community center.
My resolution is to take up kickboxing.
My goal for this year is to finish writing my novel.

Spend less time on social media

While apps like Instagram and TikTok can be fun or even useful, there are many people who use these apps more than is healthy. In fact, some countries have begun introducing strict rules to reduce the time young people spend on these services. However, some people make personal choices to use them less.

Mari's goal is to spend less time on Instagram.
My uncle is planning to delete Facebook on December 31st.
I want to reduce the time I spend scrolling on TikTok. It's a waste of time!

Decorate or remodel a home

The beginning of the year is often when people finally decide they are going to start that home improvement project they've been thinking about. That could mean repairing a part of their home that is old or damaged, or even adding something new like a patio.

We've been talking about it forever, but this year, my wife and I are finally going to redo the basement.
My goal is to replace my kitchen cabinets, so I bought some power tools on Black Friday.
I've been inspired by KonMari, so I'm going to clean out my garage and turn it into a game room.

Quit smoking

Around 25% of the world's population are smokers. But many of those smokers would like to "kick the habit," or quit. The new year is a popular time to commit to stopping.

My goal for next year is to finally quit smoking.

To take better care of your health?

No, because it's an expensive habit!

Do volunteer or charity work

As you can see, most resolutions are focused on improving one's life or health in some way. However, some people decide to use their time and energy to help others in the new year.

I'm very lucky to have a comfortable life, so my resolution is to do some charity work in the new year.
I'm going to volunteer at the homeless shelter twice a month.

Wrap-up

Have you made any resolutions for the new year? If so, you'll probably have many chances to talk about them with your friends and colleagues, so we hope these examples will help you to say exactly what's on your mind.

Speaking of goals, if improving your English skills is one of yours, Engoo has many friendly and experienced tutors who can help you. It doesn't matter if you want to score better on a test or simply be able to understand your favorite English-language TV shows, there's a tutor ready to help you, so get started today!

Making a Change: Popular New Year's Resolutions (from Daily News)
Give it a Go! Expressions for Starting and Stopping Activities

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