New Year resolutions. Are they really worth the paper they are written on?
On the rare occasions I have made one, it usually lasted a few days before quietly falling apart, followed by a brief flicker of guilt and then life carrying on as normal. With age has come realism rather than resolve, and while I admire those with the discipline to stick to their promises, I have accepted that resolutions are simply not for me.
That said, as 2025 draws to a close, many are once again looking ahead to the fresh start a new year seems to offer. For some, the turn of the calendar still feels like the right moment to reset habits, rethink priorities and aim for self-improvement.
New Year resolutions: Youthful optimism
Around one in five people in Britain say they intend to make New Year’s resolutions for 2026. Age plays a clear role. Younger adults are far more inclined to set goals, with more than a third of those aged between 18 and 24 planning to make resolutions, compared with just over one in ten among those aged 65 and over.
When asked what they hope to change, health-related goals dominate. Many resolution-makers say they want to get fitter or exercise more, while others focus on losing weight or improving their diet. A smaller group speak more generally about wanting to be healthier without tying themselves to a specific target.
Financial intentions also feature, with some people planning to save more, spend less or manage their money better. Beyond health and finances, a handful of respondents say they want to work on being a better person, spend more meaningful time with family and friends, or look for a new job or a change in career.
New Year resolutions for 2025
Looking back at resolutions made for 2025, enthusiasm appears to fade as quickly as it begins for many. Only a small proportion of people say they even remember making resolutions at the start of the year. Among those who did, just over a third believe they managed to keep all of them, while a similar number admit they stuck to some but not others. Around a quarter say they failed to keep any at all.
Earlier research has shown just how fragile good intentions can be, with a significant number of people abandoning at least part of their resolutions within the first week of January. It seems that while the idea of a fresh start is appealing, turning that motivation into lasting change is another matter entirely.
So whether you are someone who carefully writes a list of goals every December or, like me, prefers to let January pass without promises, the question remains the same each year. Will this be the year that resolutions finally stick, or will they once again be quietly forgotten by the time the decorations come down?
