Happy new year! Have you set your resolutions?
The new year often has people looking for a fresh start. According to a YouGovsurvey, the top three New Years resolutions are:
- Exercise more
- Be happier
- Eat more healthily
A general “improve physical health” comes in fifth, right behind “save more money,” and it’s quickly followed by “lose weight” and “improve mental health.” Of the top ten goals, six are directly wellness-related, showing its importance.
When on assignment, however, it can be even harder to make a goal of overall wellness. International moves come with extra stressors that make a holistic approach to health even more important, but in a new country where food, sports, and even cultural norms around exercise and mental health may be different, it can be hard for an expatriate to know where to start to make the improvements they seek.
Living Abroad understands that and strives to tailor our information to support assignees’ overall wellness in ways that will make all these resolutions achievable anywhere in the world. In our Social Environment section, the Sports and Fitness article provides information on both indoor and outdoor physical fitness, from what sports are popular to whether gyms are gender-segregated, and even information on local clubs for hiking, golf, and more.
Happiness is also achievable with our information on local mental health counseling, which includes whether or not assignees can still meet with their local providers via telehealth.
And one of our New Years resolutions is to continue to apply our wellness updates to our Food Shopping and Eating Out articles. By including information on topics like where to buy gluten-free bread and pasta, what vegan food is available, the safety of fresh fruits and vegetables, and how allergies are handled, our reports guide assignees trying to eat both healthily and locally.
In addition to giving what people set as their goals, surveys also report that between 88-92% of people give up on their resolutions within the first two weeks of January. What helps people stick to their goals, however, is having knowledge and support to encourage them. With the wellness information provided by Living Abroad, assignees can become happier and healthier versions of themselves, becoming part of the 10% that crush their 2026 goals and succeed all year long.
Written by Kate Havas, GMS-T, Content Manager
