New Year's resolutions to reflect the suffering due to U.S. economy

If you still find it hard to believe how far the U.S. economy has fallen, here's another bit of evidence: The percentage of health and fitness-related New Year's resolutions is expected to be way down this year, while those focusing on family and finance should go up.

That is according to the folks at Arizona-based myGoals.com, a Web site focused on helping people set and reach personal and professional goals. Every year, the company predicts what resolutions people will make based on the current year's third-quarter goal-setting activity.

Based on an anonymous, random, unscientific sample of 250 goals people have set at the site, the most popular New Year's resolution for 2009 will, once again, be related to health and fitness. But the percentage of resolutions focused on those themes should be only 23 percent, down five percentage points from last year.

Greg Helmstetter, CEO of myGoals.com, said in a prepared statement that the No. 1 goal for people — including me — will once again be, "To lose weight."

"Most people who indicate that they would like to lose weight are only seeking to lose about 10 pounds," Helmstetter said in the statement. "Big, dramatic resolutions, such as goals to run marathons, are not going to be as common in 2009. In fact, health and fitness resolutions are very consistent with the general trend toward security, comfort and nesting that we're seeing in other categories."

I could stand to lose more than 10 pounds, and I hope to do better in that regard in 2009 than I have in years past. But I can see why myGoals.com found that health-related resolutions are more focused these days on things like reducing stress and getting more sleep. I was saying to someone at work the other day that, if days had 30 hours instead of 24, I'd probably be able to get all of my work done and get a good night's sleep.

Alas, that's probably not going to happen, so I guess my sleep deprivation will continue.

The myGoals.com estimates show that 18 percent of resolutions for 2009 will be career-related, down three percentage points from 2008, while personal finance goals will increase one point to 14 percent.

I'm guessing the career-related goals will be down because people are happy just to hold on to the jobs they already have, and Helmstetter echoes that.

"This is going to be a very different year for many people," he said. "In 2009, we expect people to forgo big moves, career changes or vacations, and instead focus on reconnecting with friends, spending time with family, and organizing and improving their homes."