It’s the first week of January, which means gyms are likely packed, “Dry January” is as hip as ever and it seems as if everyone is looking to shed a few pounds.
‘Tis the season for New Year resolutions. But how long will those goals last? And how many people will see their resolutions continue through an entire calendar year?
It’s hard to make the “new year, new you” mindset stick, according to a 2023 study by Dr. Michelle Rozen, a bestselling author and psychologist who is also known as “The Change Doctor.”
Rozen’s findings suggest that only 6% of people keep their New Year’s resolutions.
The survey-based study focused on 999 participants, ages 20 through 60. Of the group, more than 80% of participants set a New Year’s resolution – but the resolutions were not long-kept.
Nearly one-third of goalsetters abandoned their aspirations in January. Another 63.5% of participants stopped pursuing their goals in February. Only 53 people reported sticking to their goals by June, according to the study findings.
When is ‘Quitter’s Day’?
The second Friday in January is often referred to as Quitter’s Day, when many people will abandon their set resolutions, according to Spectrum Health.
This year, Quitter’s Day falls on Friday, Jan 10. Will your resolutions outlast Quitter’s Day in 2025?
What are the most popular New Year’s resolutions?
A New Year’s resolution can be anything, but these were the most common New Year’s Resolutions for 2025, according to a 2024 Statistica study.
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Spend more time with family/friends (14%)
The Statistica study, involving 1,050 Americans ages 18 to 80, had participants identify their 2025 resolutions from 15 options and allowed for multiple selections. This study also found that 43% of participants did not set a New Year’s resolution.
Tips for keeping your New Year’s resolutions
Don’t give up on yourself! Here are some tips to be in the 6% of successful goal-setters this year, according to the experts.
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Make a realistic plan. Set a goal and break it into smaller, more manageable parts.
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Find an accountability partner.
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Keep it simple. Stick to just one or two goals.
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Act like someone who has already met the goal. Fake it ’till you make it.
Texas Connect Team reporter Alexis Simmerman contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: How many people give up on New Year’s resolutions by Quitter’s Day?
