The trends among New Year's resolutions of 2020

New Year's resolutions. I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with them. Love because I always get positive energy from thinking them up in the ‘previous’ year. Because then I still think that the upcoming year will really be my year (2020, I'm counting on you again in that regard — don't let me down again) and it feels good to come up with all sorts of ways to make that happen. Hate because 90% of those resolutions don't even make it to February. February doesn't even make it. And also hate because then I get annoyed with myself again, because the wimp that I am should have just put a bit more fire in my ass. Anyway, failed. But a meager consolation is that I'm not the only one in this (I believe the success rate of New Year's resolutions in the Netherlands has never been higher than 10%). Also a meager consolation that every year thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of people have the same resolution. We're collectively busy. What's on the agenda this year? Just read along with the New Year's resolution trends of 2020.

1. (More) being vegan, becoming or staying. This is something I saw so much more around me in 2019 and I expect it to only increase in 2020. With documentaries like The Game Changers, it hasn't decreased either. Hotspots like the Vegan Junk Food Bar were already quite trendy, but especially cooking vegan at home, I see much more. A positive change in itself, but I'm curious how well people will stick to this. And yes, I'm also joining the craze. Sort of, then. Eating and cooking more vegetarian is my goal.

2. Spending less time on your phone. It took a while, but I dare to admit it now: I'm addicted. To my phone. Not so much to social media (even though I'm also on there too much), I can't even fall asleep without reading my standard hour on Reddit. Not okay. I believe more people suffer from the always-phone-in-hand syndrome and that should all be a bit less. My goal is to reduce my screen time by 30%. And no, I don't dare to say how much that is now.

3. More attention to sustainability. This has also been in the news a lot lately and I guess (and hope) that there will only be more of it in 2020. Not buying bulk clothing just because it was on sale or simply cheap, no beauty products that are harmful to the environment, etc. A little kindness towards our planet.

5. Better work/life balance. Burnouts have unfortunately also become a bit of a trend and hopefully that number will decrease in 2020. In 2019, it was already a hot item, when ‘more rest’ was already in the top 3 of New Year's resolutions. I often see it around me; stress due to work, overtime, and so on. And I also hear many resolutions around me to change this and give a bit more attention to yourself and your private life. As far as I'm concerned, a top resolution for the new year that hopefully won't fail at 90%.

6. Exercising. Yes, this one always seems to be part of the New Year's resolutions (in combination with losing weight), so I could hardly not mention it. In fact, this is number 1 of the best New Year's resolutions of all time. That doesn't surprise me at all. Yes, this is also a resolution for me (although for a different reason; I couldn't exercise for a while due to an accident), to get a bit fitter again. The Christmas days and New Year's Eve are also not very conducive to this with all the kilos and liters I consume. A fit 2020. Really curious to see how that will go... Oh yes, just a side note: we are not going to diet. Research shows that 98% of this New Year's resolution fails. Aii.

7.  More vacations. This has a bit to do with number 4, but I find this such a nice resolution that it deserves a separate mention. Because vacation is just really fun. And Vitamin D is also very good for you. I, as a winter depression person, am already planning to skip winter next year. More vacations. Let’s do it.