By David T. Valentin
As we round out this long, long, very long year, like any other year, we look towards the next year to plan out our new year’s resolutions. Though, surviving 2020 seems to be an accomplishment in itself, for some they’re ending the year hopeful that 2021 might be better. As we set down our new year’s resolutions, no matter how simple or big, it’s always important to set down a plan, some accountability, and know why we might fail.
YouGov conducted a survey back in December 2019 where they asked a variety of questions to Americans on whether they were planning to make New Year’s resolutions for 2020 or not and which resolutions were they going for.
According to their survey, only 28% of Americans said they planned to make New Year’s resolutions back in 2020. Among those surveyed who said they planned on making New Year’s resolutions, the top three resolutions listed were to exercise more, save money, and eat more healthily (50%, 49%, and 43% respectively).
Among the less popular New Year’s resolutions, 24% wish to improve relations or spend more time with their family, 24% wish to focus on their partner. On the lower end of the survey 19% Americans wish to make more friends while 18% wish to volunteer in their community.
But how effective are Americans at actually carrying out their resolutions? It seems not so much.
In fact, according to the nypost, “A new poll of 2,000 Americans found that it takes just 32 days for the average person to finally break their resolution(s) – but 68% report giving up their resolutions even sooner than that.”
Which makes February 1st the date in which we give up on our New Year’s resolutions.
Though, that doesn’t mean it’s all doom and gloom. Even though, according to the same survey, 67% of those who made New Year’s resolutions stated that setting resolutions have a “positive impact on their lives and help[s] them change their lifestyle over time.”
In the hubbub of attempting to succeed at everything we do, we forget that failure is an important step forward. Though, after the long year of 2020 and a few more months of restricted social gathering, it’s possible people have learned to slow down and relax. And in a culture that demands constant hustling, perhaps it’s for the best going forward?
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