Did you set yourself a new year resolution? If you did, you’re not alone. According to research from the pollster YouGov, more than a quarter of us began the year with great intentions.
Are you still sticking to your resolution? If not, don’t be hard on yourself. For one in five of us, our better way doesn’t make it past January.
I began 2025 with the inspiration of the “blue zones” – the five corners of the world that are noted for their longer and healthier lives. If it’s good enough for those in Italy, Greece, Japan, Costa Rica and California, I thought, it’s good enough for me.
Studies of these “blue zones” have identified the nine secrets of their longevity. These were to be the foundation of the new me in 2025. The nine secrets are:
- To move naturally: by incorporating physical activity into my daily routine.
- To have purpose: by having a confident sense of direction.
- To downshift: by finding ways to relieve stress.
- To follow the 80% Rule: by eating only until I am 80% full.
- To have a plant-based diet: by focusing on a diet rich in vegetables, beans and nuts.
- To enjoy wine at 5pm: by enjoying a social drink in the early evening.
- To belong: by participating in my local community.
- To put loved ones first: by prioritising family and close relationships.
- To have the right tribe: by surrounding myself with supportive friends.
Guided by the above, my genius plan was to stride confidently with my mates to the local pub at the end of each day, to enjoy a large glass of red and a packet of crisps. Simple.
But then my bubble was burst.
The Ig Nobel Prizes are a satirical take on the Nobel Prizes, awarded annually since 1991 to celebrate unusual or thought-provoking achievements in scientific research. The 2024 ceremony took place at the esteemed Massachusetts Institute of Technology. And this year they chose to recognise the work of Dr Saul Newman of the Oxford Institute of Population Ageing.
Dr Newman had questioned the Blue Zones and the secrets of their success. His study found that purpose and pure living may not have been at the heart of their longer lives. Instead, he suggested the Blue Zones may have been built on a foundation of dodgy data.
Among a number of concerns, Newman reported that centenarians had an unusual bias towards birthdays on the first of the month; that 42% of Costa Ricans had incorrectly recorded their age; that 72% of Greek centenarians were missing; that 17% of centenarians in the US were, in fact, non-centenarians; that 30,000 Italians in receipt of pensions were already dead; and that the oldest man in Japan had no birth certificate, but three birthdays.
Dr Newman does not go as far as to say that the Blue Zones don’t exist, and his report has not yet been peer-reviewed. But he has made many stop and think – which was the reason for his prize.
Given the above, I’ve decided to put my “Blue Zone” new year resolutions on hold. Instead, I’m going to follow the lead of the masses and prioritise the UK’s most popular new year resolution, according to YouGov: to save more.
Time to check in with my financial adviser?
Alistair McQueen is head of savings & retirement at Aviva
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