LONDON, December 31 /PRNewswire/ -- A new survey from Red Kooga shows a trend towards doing more rather than giving things up for the New Year.

Typical resolutions like giving up smoking and junk food are being replaced by resolutions to learn new skills, take up more hobbies and be more active.

Over half of the 2,546 people surveyed (56%) are vowing to do more exercise in 2008 - this is up from 43% of people in 2007. This time last year people were more likely to be trying to give up smoking (16% in 2007 down to 13% for 2008), possibly due to the impending ban.

In 2008,17% of people want to take up a new hobby or learn a new skill, a significant increase on the 13% who made this their aim for 2007. The under 18s were most likely to express this sentiment - 37% will be looking to expand their horizons in the coming year. This age group are also the most likely to show an interest in taking on voluntary work (13% compared to the average of 5%) and to travel more (19% compared to 5% of the unadventurous 41-45 year olds).

Sadly, the survey also suggests that the hopes of the youngest age group are most likely to end in failure.

A whopping average of 64% respondents failed to fulfil their resolutions for 2007 but this rises to 88% of under-18s. Age and experience seem to be an indicator of more success with resolutions - just 60% of the over 55s broke their resolutions for 2007, the lowest score of any age group.

The findings also suggest the last teens and early twenty-somethings feel unfulfilled and disenchanted with their achievements during the last year. Over half (51%) of 22-25 year olds and 45% of 19-21 year olds say they didn't achieve all they wanted in the last year.

People in London and the South East seem to be spending too much time away from their loved ones with 15% and 17% respectively saying they would like to spend more time with the family. This figure has more than doubled since last year when 6% and 8% in the same regions respectively made the same resolution.

South-Westerners are leading the eco-revolution - they are the most likely to resolve to be greener in the New Year (18% compared to national average of 14%) and a pioneering 3% are trying to stop using the car completely.

People in the North West are the most likely to have failed on their resolutions for last year (69% compared to the 63% national average). They are also the most likely to need an energy boost ( yes, Red Kooga is not surprisingly an energy drink) to help them along - 25% feel more energy will get them more out of 2008.

Fortunately, the overall sentiment about the impending New Year is positive - 52% are looking forward to 2008 and 50% say there are lots of things they would like to get out of the year ahead. A miserable minority of 13% who say they don't care about New Year and feel its just another day.

Based on an independent survey of 2,546 respondents.