New year, new you? Three commonly broken resolutions

This week marked the start of a new year, and for a lot of people a "new you". 

Making New Year's resolutions is tradition at the beginning of every year.

After weeks of indulging over the festive season, many people are ready to put bad habits behind them, and get their act together. 

But according to research carried out by the University of Scranton, only eight-percent of people actually keep their resolutions. 

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Most people fail because they set too many goals, while many don't plan how they will achieve their resolutions - setting themselves up for failure. 

Here are three resolutions that many people commit to, but fail to keep.

Lose weight

This resolution makes the list more often than not. Gym memberships spike in January, but come February treadmills are abandoned, and dumbbells are collecting dust. This is because instead of setting clear goals like workout three times a week, many people just jot down lose weight. You need a plan of action, and you need to stick to it if you want to take this resolution seriously. It takes a lot of sweat, and most people are not really up for the challenge. 

Quit smoking/drinking

At the top of many people's resolutions list this year will be the desire to quit smoking or drinking. But saying you want to quit is only the first step. Most people try to go cold turkey and fail within the first few days. Smoking and drinking addicts need more than a resolution to quit, they need professional help. But if you are not an addict, you can try to quit by slowly cutting back, instead of giving it up in one go. Speak to your doctor about what medication can help with withdrawal symptoms. Medical News Today also recommends seeking behavioural support or alternative therapies like hypnosis or yoga - which is believed to help smokers. Try making just one resolution, especially if it is a big one like quitting smoking or drinking, so that you can give it all your attention.

Get out of debt/save money

South Africans are drowning in debt,  and this is likely to be a popular resolution for many. According to a 2017 Statistics SA report, 48, 169 summons for debt were issued.  If you are serious about getting rid of your debt, the first step is jotting down all your expenses, and making a monthly budget. This way you will be able to see exactly what you can and cannot afford. Sell items you no longer use to help pay off some of your debt, and consider turning a hobby into something that can help you make extra cash. Write a list whenever you have to go shopping, and carry cash to avoid overspending. 

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