A majority wants less stress

The Germans wish for good intentions for the new year, especially less stress and more rest.

31/12/2010

According to a survey of the health insurance DAK, the German citizens wish for the coming year above all less stress. Around 59 percent of respondents said that in 2011, they wanted more relaxation and less stress.

The year 2010 has obviously weighed heavily on many people. The economic and financial crisis, an insecure work situation or the ever-increasing pressure on society's performance prompt a majority of DAK survey participants to express the New Year's wish for less stress and more recovery. According to the currently published health barometer „Good intentions for 2011“ especially families „so energized that two-thirds of them have targeted more relaxation for the coming year“.

A total of 59 percent of the approximately 3,000 participants stated that they wanted less stress in the coming year. Most often, families with underage children wanted less stressful situations. Here, a much calmer time wished for about 68 percent. The DAK psychologist believes that reconciling job and family is becoming increasingly difficult for many. So said psychologist Frank Meiners: „Mastering the demands in job, family and household at the same time is often associated with permanent stress.“

Young adults between the ages of 18 and 29 wish above-average time for the family and social contacts for the year 2011. In addition, young people in particular tend to do more sports, to maintain a healthier diet, to watch television less and to live more economically. But the good intentions are usually not long lasting. According to the DAK survey, good intentions last for just three months on average. Only older people over the age of 60 are far more consistent in their intentions. Here, about 56 percent of the respondents also adhere to their good intentions in the longer term. Women are probably more willing than men. While 47 percent actually implement their wishes, women account for around 52 percent. There are also some differences between countries. Viewed nationwide, here are the Brandenburg with 60 percent with their will power ahead. Taillights are the Saxons. Of them, only 37 percent longer stay at the „good intentions for the new year“.

The 10 most frequently mentioned personal New Year wishes:
1. Avoid or reduce stress (59 percent)
2. More time for family / friends (56 percent)
3. Move more / Sport (52 percent)
4. More time for myself (49 percent)
5. Nurture healthier people (44 percent)
6. Slimming (34 percent)
7. be more economical (32 percent)
8. Less TV (18 percent)
9. Drink less alcohol (14 percent)
10. Quit smoking (12 percent)

In order to be able to really implement the personal New Year's wish, the graduate psychologist Meiners advises to make fewer goals: „Less is more. Set yourself few, but realistic goals for the New Year. Also 'relapses' should be calculated and taken athletically. Smaller waypoints are also often helpful. Because if the goal is set too high, the frustration is usually great, if it is not achieved.“

Far removed in the survey statistics are the classic wishes for more money, less alcohol and smoking cessation. Only 12 percent want to give up smoking. Less alcohol drinking hung 14 percent. However, it should be noted that for some years fewer and fewer young people even start smoking. Around 4,000 people took part in the Forsa Institute's total of two survey studies nationwide. The survey was conducted on behalf of the statutory health insurance DAK. (Sb)