How Not to Fail Your New Year’s Resolution

New Year’s is just around the corner. Well, maybe not right around the corner. Let’s say it’s around the corner of a distant neighborhood. Regardless, it’s approaching.

Tens of millions of people worldwide will set their New Year’s resolutions, hoping that this year, the habit will stick. Yet, the statistics are not in their favor.

What Do New Year’s Resolution Statistics Say?

• 38.5% of US adults set New Year’s resolutions every year.
• 59% of young adults (ages 18–34) have New Year’s resolutions, making them the largest demographic that sets these goals.
• 48% want to exercise more, making it the most popular New Year’s resolution. The top three resolutions are all health-related.
• 23% give up within the first week, and only 36% persist beyond the first month.
• Only 9% successfully maintain their New Year’s resolutions. Source

Ouch.

Just a 9% success rate.

That’s a hard pill to swallow, and what’s more, I suspect the actual number might even be lower than 9% because these statistics are based on surveys, and some people might “exaggerate” their consistency…believing that hitting the gym every two months is not the same as quitting.