A 2007 study by Richard Wiseman from the University of Bristol involving 3,000 people showed that 88% of those who set New Year resolutions fail.

This year, for myself, I do intend to take on a various array of new years resolutions putting some time into making them come into reality.

Personally I don't like to see people simply change their life after something serious happens, when they could take positive action a lot earlier.

Do you have any plans? Or are new years resolutions, simply a waste of time?

Dear Nathan,

I will be making a New Year's Resolution.

My mother is in a dementia wing of
a nursing home. I've learned to inter-act with
the people there over these past months. And it's
all been positive. I found that the more I
inter act with them the less likely I am to
indulge in focusing on my own complaints and
frustrations. It's been a win,win, situation
all round and I intend to continue to do that
next year.

cont'd ...

I guess the build up to another year and a fresh
start hopefully gives us new hope for a better
version of ourselves. What I've found is that if
I focus on others than myself - it gives more
meaning to my life and fewer depressive
symptoms. Shifting my focus outwards helps me to
concentrate on the positive in situations.
The more time that I spend helping others the
less likely I am to indulge and fester in my own
complaints and frustrations. I find that even
small acts of kindness - such as smiling,
saying 'hello' to someone, holding the door
open for someone, making eye contact - helps
towards creating a happier place.

I intend to keep on doing more of that. Making
each day - as awesome as can be.