Work-life balance tops global New Year wish list

Striking a better balance between work and play, taking more exercise and avoiding disastrous relationships top resolution lists around the world this New Year.

Global research group ACNielsen surveyed consumers in 46 countries and found from the United States to Viet Nam that more than half of those interviewed wanted work to play a lesser role in their lives in 2007.

One in three US consumers who have the highest rate of obesity in the developed world also planned to go on a diet.

"Consumers have realized a healthy lifestyle is not about the latest celebrity diet or trendy exercise fads, but is simply about having a balanced diet and lifestyle," ACNielsen Europe President Patrick Dodd said.

Smoking bans passed in 2006 in countries from Spain to Uruguay looked to be bolstering the global health trend with one in five smokers polled admitting they were aiming to cut down or quit next year.

Exercise was also in the spotlight, with Filipinos, Australians and Singaporeans most committed to being more active.

"In many countries, 2006 was the year that 'natural' and 'organic' moved into the mainstream and this trend is likely to gain momentum in the year ahead," Dodd said.

The drive to detox also stretched to more intimate parts of people's lives. One in five consumers globally said they wanted 2007 to be the year they avoided "disastrous relationships."

A survey commissioned by the UK-based Childline charity showed that children of smokers want their parents to stub out their cigarettes as part of New Year resolutions.

Giving up smoking was the single most popular pledge children picked for their parents in 2007 out of 461 youngsters aged 11 to 16.

The poll also found that almost two thirds wanted their parents to listen more and 61 per cent wanted to be consulted about decisions affecting their lives.

Over half of youngsters said they did not want their parents to shout at them.

"Young people who took part in this poll have been clear that they are eager for their voices to be heard," said Mary Marsh, director of the National Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) which sponsors Childline. "In the day to day stresses of life it can be very difficult for parents to take time out to talk and really listen to their children, but it is vital," she said.

Among other findings revealed by the poll was that 62 per cent wanted to be treated as "grown up" by their parents. Among boys aged 15 and 16, 70 per cent said they wanted to be given more responsibility.

Older children were also eager to see their parents work fewer hours in the New Year (41 per cent of 15- and 16-year-olds) although even more, 61 per cent, of 11-year-olds wanted their parents to spend more time with them.

Source: China Daily