Diocese of Hereford to help people keep New Year resolutions

The Diocese of Hereford is trying to break the New Year tradition of failed resolutions with a new initiative to help people to do much better at keeping them.

On each working day in January, the diocese's website will include a suggested resolution that touches upon an aspect of personal life, improvements in the diocese or links to the wider world.

"We want to encourage people to think about what they might do differently in 2008 and we also want them to realise you don't have to make your decision on New Year's day," said Anni Holden, Head of Communications for the Diocese of Hereford. "There will be a different suggestion by just clicking on the front page."

Some of the 23 suggested resolutions cover spiritual aspects, such as improving people's prayer life and keeping them informed about issues, to encouragement to take up charity work or practical ideas on environmentally friendly living.

"We have had a link during Advent, the run up to Christmas, to an Advent Calendar which aimed to make you stop and think and this just seems a natural extension to that," added Ms Holden. "At least one of the year long ideas might make you stop, think and do."

Visitors can see the New Year's resolutions by visiting the website at www.hereford.anglican.org from 2 January 2008 and clicking on the New Year link on the front page. A different resolution will be displayed on each working day in the month until 31 January.

Different days will take on different themes, with charity ideas on Tuesdays, spiritual suggestions on Wednesdays, diocesan ideas on Thursdays, environmental resolutions on Friday and Mondays for everything else.

"We don't expect people to take them all on board, but to choose one or two that will fit in with their lifestyle, or even change their lifestyle a little," said Ms Holden. "And once they have decided, with Easter so early in 2008, it will be time to start thinking about what to do for Lent."