As the clock strikes midnight on January 1, millions of adults across America roll out their lists of New Year’s resolutions. We were curious…

How many people really make them?
How long do they stick with them?
And what goals are actually being set?

Who Makes Resolutions and How Long They Last

Studies show that making New Year’s resolutions isn’t universal. In the U.S., somewhere around 30% –40% of adults plan at least one resolution each year, with younger adults (ages 18–29) much more likely to set goals than those over 50, according to Drive Research.

Even with good intentions, sticking to them is the real challenge. (I mean, c’mon – have you ever tried to not eat pizza for a year?) The average resolution lasts about 3.7 months, according to a Forbes survey. Other research shows many people drop their goals within weeks — some as early as the second week of January. In other words… long-term success is RARE.

The Most Common New Year’s Resolutions

Across multiple surveys, we found a few patterns. Here are some of the most frequent:

Top New Year’s Resolutions

  • Exercise more / get fit
  • Eat healthier / lose weight
  • Save more money / improve finances
  • Spend more time with family and friends
  • Quit smoking or other bad habits

Our family team is a mixed bag. Some use the New Year to get back on track. Some just roll through it like it’s any other week of the year. But one thing’s for sure… we’re all going to keep eating pizza.

Whatever you choose to do, we hope you have a very Happy New Year… from all of us at United Faith Mortgage.