Why 91% of New Year’s Resolutions Fail Before December
New Year’s resolutions have been a long-standing tradition, stretching back thousands of years. While many set ambitious goals, research shows most struggle to keep them. Only a small fraction of people actually succeed by the year’s end.
The concept of New Year’s resolutions began in ancient Babylon around 4,000 years ago. People made promises to gods like Marduk at the start of each year. Later, Romans honoured Janus, the two-faced god of beginnings, while early Christians used January 1st for repentance. By the 17th century, the practice had evolved into secular self-improvement goals. The term 'New Year’s resolution' first appeared in a Boston newspaper in 1813.
Common resolutions today include losing weight, getting organised, and saving money. In 1947, the top goals were improving one’s disposition, quitting smoking, and taking better care of health. Despite good intentions, 64% abandon their resolutions within the first month. By the end of the year, 81% have given up entirely. A Marist Poll found that 68% of those who made a resolution had kept it at some point. However, only 9% of Americans manage to stick with theirs all year. The main reasons for failure are losing motivation (35%) and being too busy (19%).
The tradition of setting New Year’s resolutions remains strong, even as success rates stay low. Most people drop their goals early, but a small percentage still manage to follow through. The reasons behind their enduring popularity, despite the challenges, remain unclear.
