If the last two years has taught us anything, one major take-a-way is be prepared to change your plans. As we all prepare to welcome in the new year, many of us feel a fresh start is long overdue. Perhaps it is also a good time to lay out those new year’s resolutions for 2022.

Although life may at times be challenging and unexpected events can through some kinks into your plans, it can be helpful to set clear goals for the year ahead. Depending on who you ask some of the most popular new year’s resolutions include plans to exercise more, eat healthier, spend more quality time with loved ones and live more economically.

For many, somewhere near the top of that resolutions list include plans to focus on financial goals, measures to spend less, save more and settle debts. According to an Ipsos poll conducted for Global News, 41% of Canadians intend to make a resolution regarding their finances. Roughly half (48%) of respondents are resolved to pay off their debts in 2022.

With inflation at an 18-year high of 4.7%, largely driven by soaring shelter costs, high gas prices and the rising cost of food more Canadians will feel the pressure to make ends meet and put food on the table. Nearly half (48%) of Canadians surveyed considered the price of groceries and food inflation to be a significant barrier to their financial security.

That concern is most prevalent among households earning less than $40,000 a year. Even with the minimum wage in Ontario set to increase to $15 an hour on January 1, 2022, low-income households typically spend a higher share of their budgets on necessities like food, shelter and clothing, making it more difficult to maintain their existing quality of life.

Yet despite the stresses of life, nearly two thirds of Canadians (67%) resolve to have an optimistic outlook for 2022. Part of that perspective incorporates measures to improve physical health and wellbeing. Almost half (48%) of respondents intend to set a goal to better their physical state of health, while 37% aim to focus on improving their mental health status.

The survey also revealed that resolutions about physical health was a top priority among all age groups who participated. Those aged 18-24 years appeared most eager, at 59%, to make resolutions surrounding their health, followed by the 35-54 age group at 50% and those over the age of 55 at 39%.

For those who successfully achieved their goals set out at the start of 2021, congratulations. For the rest of us still trying, be kind to yourself and be grateful for what you have already achieved. Tomorrow brings a new opportunity to start fresh.

Photo credit: Isaac Smith, Unsplash