Millions of Americans resolve each December to improve themselves in the new year — perhaps by joining a gym, quitting smoking or losing weight — but experts say many will give up on their goals quickly in January.
In fact, quitting on New Year’s resolutions is such a common event, it’s recognized on the second Friday in January — Jan. 10 this year, according to National Today.
“Everyone has good intentions on Jan. 1 when they begin,” said Justin Hale, an adviser at Crucial Learning, a company that helps people become better leaders. “But their plan for how they’ll actually do that new thing and do it consistently, is very very poor.”
In a survey of 1,050 Americans ages 18 to 80, the most popular resolutions revolved around saving more money (21%), eating healthier (19%) and exercising more (17%), according to Statista, a data and business intelligence platform that conducted the survey.
New Year’s Resolutions often include topics around physical health, weight loss, eating habits, personal growth, mental health and sleep, according to 2020 research by the National Library of Medicine.
The average New Year’s resolution lasts less than four months and unfortunately for some, new goals and vows may only last weeks or days, according to a 2023 Forbes Health/OnePoll survey.
Experts say creating simple goals, naming motivators, planning for setbacks, finding support and more are methods to attain long-lasting New Year’s resolutions.
Here’s more on how to see your goals through this year:
What is Quitter’s Day?
The second Friday in January, known as Quitter’s Day, is the day on which most people give up on their New Year’s resolutions. It falls on Friday, Jan. 10, 2026.
The unofficial “holiday” originated from a fitness tracking app, Strava, which discovered a pattern of significantly less activity in mid-January, according to Forbes.
What are the most popular New Year’s resolutions?
According to the survey by Statista of 1,050 Americans, these are the top six resolutions:
How can I keep my New Year’s Resolutions?
For those who want a new version of themselves, the secret to goal-setting appears to be in the approach and consistency. According to 2024 statistics from Drive Research, a market research company, only 9% of Americans kept their resolutions throughout the year.
“Aside from keeping a goal journal planner, another good way to maintain New Year’s resolutions is to set up another accountability method,” the study said.
To help get past Quitter’s Day, here are goal-setting tips recommended by Forbes, Very Well Mind:
USA TODAY contributed
Contact Sarah Moore @ smoore@lsj.com
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: What is Quitter’s Day? How to hold onto 2026 New Year’s resolutions
Reporting by Sarah Moore, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
