The Germans' top resolution is to chill out. According to a national representative survey by health insurance company DAK Gesundheit, 64% said it was one of their goals for 2020. While we could have picked a photo of someone banging their head on a desk loaded with files to illustrate a really stressful situation, we thought we'd give you a good start instead, with this cute kitten.

Once again a year has gone by. You have to cram too many dinners and parties at the end of the year in a last-minute attempt to claim you haven't completely lost touch with your loved ones. But next year, you'll see each other more often, that's for sure. That's how Germans feel about it, too. It's the country's second favorite resolution: 64% have it on their list for 2020.

Greta Thunberg's school strike for climate movement definitely got the Germans thinking they should at least try to do more for the environment. Contributing to climate protection and being more environment-friendly wasn't even among their top 12 resolutions last year, but 64% of the survey participants now had it on their list for 2020.

Another worldwide classic. In Germany, 56% of the people polled said they'd get moving in 2020. While a widespread attitude towards New Year's resolutions is that most people don't stick to their program for very long, every second German in the poll (54%) said they usually hang in there for at least four months.

And some resolutions might be more fun to keep than jogging in the winter... Just picture yourself by the sea, with nothing else to do than centering yourself with those cool mindfulness exercises you read about back in 2019 on your smartphone in the crowded subway on the way to work. Yes, 53% of Germans hope to be in exactly that spot in 2020 — or at least find a little more time for themselves.

Low-sodium, low-fat, low-carb, gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, paleo, organic or raw food: There are plenty of trendy labels out there, but you can also simply improve your eating habits without following a strict diet. Just keep it fresh and colorful. That's what 53% of Germans plan on doing in 2020.

Another classic resolution. While eating healthy food and working out could well lead to shedding extra pounds, 36% of the poll respondents were honest about what they ultimately wanted to achieve in 2020: slim down. Keeping a journal might help you track your weight loss: "Diet Day 1: I have removed all the bad food from the house... It was delicious."

While the Germans' reputation for being thrifty is legendary, OECD data shows that people from 12 other countries actually squirrel away more of their gross household income, including in Europe the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland and Norway. Nearly one third of the polled Germans (31%) want to live up to the stereotype and put more money aside in 2020.

There's a growing body of scientific evidence showing how the internet stimulates the same neurotransmitters as addictive drugs — especially through the micro-feedback one gets through social media. Time to put the smartphone down. That's what 27% of Germans plan to do in 2020. This trend is even stronger among young people aged 14-29: 47% of them hope to spend more time offline.

Arguments to help the 20% of Germans who want to stop zapping: You'll find more time for your family, friends and yourself, or to prepare healthy meals and work out, which is the best way to relieve stress anyway. You might save money by canceling all your pay-TV subscriptions. And if you don't compensate by watching more Youtube, you'll cover a good chunk of your New Year's goals.

Germany and beer, the old cliché. It does remain the world's fourth top beer-drinking country after the Czech Republic, Namibia and Austria, so there's something to it. Now, 15% of Germans said they want to drink less alcohol as of 2020, so we'll have to wait and see if that has any kind of impact on the country's ranking. After all, Poland isn't too far behind.

Despite the well-known health risks, nearly every fourth German smokes. Now 11% of the people polled said they were planning on (trying to) stop in 2020. Just as many had it on their list of resolutions in 2019. As studies have also found that quitting smoking is the most difficult resolution to keep, that might well end up on their list of resolutions again in 2021.

With its rich fireworks and men clad in their traditional kilts parading on the streets, Scotland celebrates the winter festival "Hogmanay" on December 31. Precisely at midnight, people walk from door to door singing the ancient Celtic folk song "Auld Lang Syne." And should they ring your door bell they will bring you luck – and possibly a bottle of whisky to share.

Following age-old tradition, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark holds a New Year's speech at 6 pm, broadcast on all radio and television stations. This is followed by lavish dinner parties, where heaps of food are accompanied by copious amounts of champagne and topped off with "Kransekage" — a wreathed almond cake. Those who can still get up at midnight leap off their chair and into the new year.

In Germany, people exchange small gifts that are supposed to bring good luck for the new year, like marzipan pigs or four-leaf clovers. There's also a tradition of melting little lead figurines and casting them into water to read your coming year's fortune. And everyone partakes in watching a British comedy called "Dinner for One" — a tradition people in Britain can finally engage in this year.

In Austria, the famous traditional Danube Waltz dominates New Year's festivities, whereby people literally waltz into the new year. This is usually preceded by the consumption of so-called "sweet fish," a biscuit to bring good luck for the new year. However, it's of crucial importance to start off eating the fin — or else your good fortune might swim away from you.

In Switzerland, people celebrate New Year's Eve with parades, drums and as much noise as possible, believed to drive out evil spirits and demons. But there are fewer fireworks than elsewhere. The Swiss, trying to adapt to the cold weather, prefer to have a huge bonfire. Dinner usually consists of the traditional cheese fondue – a tradition which has begun to spill over to neighboring countries.

At midnight in Spain, people swallow a grape at each stroke of the clock. You must take great care neither to choke on them nor to eat too many or too few — or else the New Year might not turn out as you wished. In towns and villages across the country, people congregate on central squares jubilating with the grapes in their mouths. By around 5 am, they eat churros, a traditional fried pastry.

The French go for fine foods, sumptuous champagne and good wine. A particular delicacy for the occasion is foie gras. There aren't many fireworks in France on New Year's Eve, as pyrotechnics are rather reserved for the French national holiday on July 14. Parisians also love to take a midnight stroll around their superbly illuminated buildings, such as the Eiffel Tower.

In Italy, gentlemen are keen to gift their ladies with red lingerie for the New Year. There is a rich dinner in the evening with the traditional dish being knuckle of pork with lentils. As in other parts of Europe, pigs are believed to bring you luck. Another way of inviting good luck for the new year is the practice of throwing old cloths out of the window at the stroke of midnight.

In the Czech Republic, people celebrate the new year with sparkling wine while eating small sandwiches called "chlebicky." Hoping to predict what the future may hold they also halve apples and examine the pits. It's considered a bad sign if the pits form a cross but if they form a star it means your road ahead will be clear. Later at midnight, fireworks illuminate the capital Prague.

In an attempt to drive out evil spirits, Bulgarians celebrate with a lot of noise, with men dressed up as monsters dancing around in the bell-clad costumes. Their dance is supposed to bring a rich harvest in the new year. People also go around patting each other on the back, which is believed to guarantee good health in the new year.

For many Greeks, New Year's Eve only means one thing: gambling. The winner of the night is expected to become rich in the new year while the loser will be lucky in love. Bakers also hide a coin in the traditional New Year's loaf; the person who gets the piece with the coin is believed to become a millionaire.

"Father Noel" brings gifts to children in Turkey while adults turn on all the taps in the household to make sure that good luck flows into the new year. As in other countries, ladies wear red lingerie while sweets are passed around to make sure that the coming year will be peaceful and, well, sweet.