Yellow Pages helps you beat the resolution blues - 10 January 2005
New study reveals Britain’s best spots for sticking to New Year’s resolutions.Colchester, birthplace of Blur’s Damon Albarn and Dermot O’Leary, has been named the best place to kick start New Year’s resolutions in 2005. A study by Yellow Pages released today reveals that, whether you’re planning to fix your finances or get your home (and body) in shape, with more than 1,700 personal improvement and lifestyle services on hand, Colchester is the best place to get on with giving up.
Colchester gives confidence
Not only does the Yellow Pages directory in Britain’s oldest recorded town list the most health and beauty services per adult it’s also the country’s best serviced area for Home Improvements.
New You Resolutions
Losing weight is always popular after the festive season, with the average person gaining around five pounds (1). According to Yellow Pages, Warrington, with more Dieting & Weight Control services than any other directory, is the perfect place to whittle your weight down.
For one of the toughest resolutions, quitting smoking, living in Canterbury could stand you in good stead. This mesmerising town has more Hypnotherapists per adult than any other area.
But residents of Sheffield beware! Although the steel city comes runner-up to Colchester in its proliferation of health and beauty services, it also has more bakers and confectioners per adult than any other area of the country.
New Financial Frontiers
Over four million Britons, i.e. more than half of the population who made New Year’s resolutions, promised themselves a healthier bank balance in 2004 (2). Residents of Colchester and Guildford get the most help in money matters with more financial advisers than any other region of in the country.
New Year, New Career
Last year one in four people in Britain wanted to celebrate the New Year with a career change (3) - and, according to Yellow Pages, living in the very north may help to give your career a boost. The Scottish Highlands & Islands have the most educational and professional advice services than any other area, closely followed by Central Birmingham and Sheffield.
Home Rejuvenation
Last year home improvements came in the top four of Britain’s most popular New Year’s resolutions (4). With more services to help revamp their homes than anywhere else in the country residents of the Highlands & Islands, Colchester and Dundee should have houses to be proud of.
The Future’s Green
Finally, if you’re keen to go green in 2005, best live in Sheffield. This city is taking the lead with more recycling services than any other area of Britain.
Richard Duggleby, head of external relations of Yell, publisher of Yellow Pages directories, said: “Making a New Year’s resolution is the easy part, but sticking to it can be troublesome. With so many services working to support your good intentions, you need look no further than the Yellow Pages for all the help you need”.
(1) Information from www.annecollins.com
(2) Survey by IFA Promotions, January 2004
(3) YouGov Survey for software company Zynap
(4) Survey of 1,000 people by tool making company CKI, January 2004 (Daily Star 25th January 2004)
