Nearly 10 million Brits make life changes in September over New Year

Forget New Year's resolutions, September is the new month for self-improvement with nearly 10million Brits saying this is the month they make life changes.

New research from Vodafone reveals 14% of Brits found a new job, 11% found a new hobby or interest and 7% moved house during the ninth month of the year.

The study also revealed that more than a third (38%) of Brits feel more motivated to improve their life this month, compared to any other time of the year.

Moreover, over eight million Brits actively embark on a lifestyle 'annual upgrade' at the beginning of Autumn.

According to a poll of 2,000 Brits, two-fifths said prioritising wellness (41%) and improving sleep (39%) were their big priorities for September.

Top 20 resolutions Brits would like to make in September

Prioritise wellness (41%)

Improve sleep (39%)

Learn a new skill (25%)

Find / start a new fitness regime (24%)

Find a new hobby or interest (23%)

Start a new diet (i.e. cutting down on meat, going gluten free, plant based) (22%)

Practice meditation / mindfulness (17%)

Start a new job (14%)

Have a style overhaul / get a new wardrobe of clothes (14%)

Join a gym (14%)

Get a new haircut / change hairstyle (14%)

Upgrade a piece of tech (e.g. mobile phone) (13%)

Learn a new language (11%)

Move house (7%)

Start a new relationship (6%)

Start therapy (6%)

Change phone contract (5%)

Quit a job (4%)

End a relationship (4%)

Relocate city / country (3%)

A quarter of Brits said learning a new skill (25%) was the top change they would like to make this month. 

Almost as many said finding a new hobby (23%) and starting a diet (22%) were important.

Nearly two in 10 (17%) people said practising meditation and mindfulness was their new focus.

Embarking on a style overhaul (14%), getting a new hairstyle (14%) and upgrading technology (13%) proved popular too, according to the new research commissioned to mark the launch of Vodafone Xchange, which lets customers get a new iPhone every year, with no early upgrade fees and nothing left to pay on their old Phone Plan when they exchange their old phone.

In fact, nearly six million Brits would prefer to upgrade their mobile phone each year, with two-fifths (42%) of them saying it's because they can keep up with new features and improvements.

Despite this, nearly a third (29%) said their contract does not give them the flexibility or freedom of choice to do so.

The 'September resolutions' are down to a sense of renewal after summer (40%), a back-to-school mentality inspiring fresh routines (24%), and the idea that, unlike in January, there's less pressure at this point in the year (30%), making it easier to commit to meaningful improvements and finish the year strong.

And no matter what month they chose to do so, 17% per cent actively try to 'reinvent' themselves annually - whether that's September or any other month of the year.

Nearly half (46%) say that tech and apps play a crucial role in personal development and making annual change, while 29% believe that staying updated with the latest tech is essential for everyday life and personal progression.

Behavioural Psychologist, Jo Hemmings, explains why the nation is opting for Autumn resolutions, commenting: 'As the research from Vodafone shows, September is a perfect time for us to reflect on the year and set new goals, without the enormous pressure that the New Year can bring.

'The added pressure and stress that comes with ''new year new you'' type resolutions often equate to a decrease in productivity, so using that post-summer energy to quietly focus on making improvements in your life can be a recipe for success for many.'

Other reasons Brits like to upgrade their device each year include having the newest models (33%), while a quarter (25%) say they consider a mobile upgrade a form of self-improvement.

Rob Winterschladen, Consumer Director at Vodafone UK said: 'September is a key month in the tech calendar, with major industry launches - but it's not just devices that get upgraded at this time of year. 

Our research shows that over eight million Brits actively make lifestyle changes during this month, whether it's fitness, learning a new skill, or upgrading their tech. 

'This reinforces the idea that people use the start of Autumn to refresh both their personal lives and their devices.