2014 resolutions No stress and more family

Intentions for 2014: What people want and make

31.12.2013

Only a few days left and we celebrate the year 2014. Traditionally, the turn of the year is the time of good intentions. More time for the family, less stress, more exercise, stop smoking: Most of the time, the projects change little, but there are regional differences.

Intentions change only slightly
In a few days the time has come: we celebrate the year 2014. The turn of the year is associated with good intentions for the coming year for many people. Most of these change little over the years. For 2014, the most popular intentions are again to avoid or reduce stress, to have more time for family and friends as well as to move more and do sports. This emerges from a representative Forsa survey for DAK Gesundheit.

Less stress and time for the family
According to that, 57 percent of respondents think they have less stress. Both time pressure at work and family quarrels and annoyances in the family are called stressful situations. „Especially women claim to be in stress, to reconcile work and family“, reported Frank Meiners, graduate psychologist at the health insurance. About every third woman has conflicts with the supervisor. In addition, 54 percent want to spend more time with family and friends. This was mainly expressed by men.

Do not let stress arise
Meiners explained that the most important credo is to have realistic goals so that stress does not even arise: „Whether at work or at leisure, who takes too much and too high expectations of himself and others, faster is under power.“ A good time management is very helpful. „Especially at work, it is often difficult to avoid stress factors. In such cases, it is best to agree specifically with superiors and colleagues“, so the expert. „What tasks might be possible at a later stage, how can the work be better distributed.“ In addition, stress-reduction exercises such as yoga are generally recommended.

Classic New Year's resolutions
About half (52 percent) of Germans have also decided to move more and do sports in the coming year. 47 percent have the intention to eat healthier. Just as many want to have more time for themselves and about one third (31 percent) plan to lose weight. Other classics of annual New Year's resolutions, such as reducing alcohol consumption (12 percent) and giving up smoking (11 percent) are in the lower echelons of survey results. These were mainly voiced by men.

Berliners need less time for themselves
There are also regional differences in wishes and plans for the New Year. For example, while the Berliners are on average in most of the above-mentioned points, but with the intent: „Take more time“ they are a whole six percentage points (41 percent) behind the total value. Frank-Rainer Quander, spokesman for the DAK-Krankenkasse, sees this as a way of getting the big city people into their urban environment. „Anyone who goes to work by bike or subway in the morning has already hit several hundred people“, he says. „So it's no wonder that Berliners have become so used to being among people, and felt they need less time for themselves.“ In contrast, the need is much more pronounced in the more rural Saarland. There, 57 percent of the population would wish, more „Time for yourself“ to have.

Brandenburg citizens remain true to their intentions
Unfortunately, all the good intentions have taken a back seat in many already a few days after the New Year. Nonetheless, the survey revealed that in 2013, every second German was able to carry on with its plans for the new year for six months or more. The Brandenburgers were the most successful with 64 percent, ahead of Bremen (61 percent) and the Saxons (60 percent). The rear lights were the residents of Schleswig-Holstein (44 percent), Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (43 percent) and Hesse (42 percent).

Only every third German has something planned
The survey commissioned DAK Health to interview Forsa with more than 3,000 people. It should also be noted that only one in three Germans had anything planned for this year and with 62 percent most probably did not want to change it in the coming year. This may be due to resignation or because they are happy with their lives anyway. (Ad)

Picture: neurolle - Rolf