Making New Year’s Resolutions Can Be Helpful: Yes, Millions Make Them

Yes, millions of us still make New Year’s resolutions.    A January 2024 Pew Research Center poll [1] found about 30% of Americans made at least one New Year’s Resolution for that year.

Making New Year’s Resolutions: Better Than Getting Drunk New Year’s Eve

Making New Year’s resolutions and going to bed early on New Year’s Eve are cheaper, safer, more productive ways to end the old year and start the new one than getting drunk.

New Year’s Eve is one of the top holidays for consuming alcoholic beverages in the United States. An Insurance Canopy[2] survey ranked it as “America’s favorite for drinking alcohol.”

Persons tempted to consume alcoholic beverages excessively at a New Year’s Eve party, at a bar, or at home could instead make New Year’s resolutions and get to bed early. Their New Year’s Eve might be better, and I’m confident it would be safer. Additionally, you will feel better when you wake up  on New Year’s Day without a hangover—or regrets over an accident or a fatality.      

Few Keep Resolutions, But Tips Can Help

A November 2024 Drive Research article[3] states: “Recent research has shown that just 9% of Americans actually keep their resolutions throughout the year.” The enlightening article provides several other statistics about New Year’s resolutions too.

Although few persons keep New Year’s resolutions completely, people still enjoy making them. Many who don’t fully succeed at keeping resolutions at least partially fulfill them.

Furthermore, persons who make specific New Year’s resolutions and set detailed small steps to progress toward attaining them are more successful in achieving their goals. Kaiser Permanente[4] is one of numerous helpful websites with information about making and accomplishing New Year’s resolutions.

Personal Perspective and Closing Thoughts

Personally, I make several New Year’s resolutions each year. I never keep them all, but they’ve helped me in various ways over the years. In a 2015 Google Blogger article[5] I discussed my approach to New Year’s resolutions in more detail.

I’ve already made my 2026 New Year’s resolutions, begun praying over them, and started seeking to implement them. I seek to continue working toward attaining them as the New Year approaches.

 As a new calendar year begins, it’s a great time to seek to change one’s life for the better. Below is a photo of a 2026 calendar I tore from a mailing I received from the nonprofit organization PETA.

Let’s all seek to enjoy our best year ever in the upcoming New Year!   

ENDNOTES:     

[1] Gracia, Shanay; “New Year’s resolutions: Who makes them and why”; Pew Research Center; January 29, 2024; webpage accessed December 30, 2025; https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/01/29/new-years-resolutions-who-makes-them-and-why/

[2] “Holiday Drinking Statistics Across Generations”; Insurance Canopy; webpage accessed December 30, 2025; https://www.insurancecanopy.com/holiday-drinking-statistics

[3] Drive Research Team; “New Year’s Resolutions Statistics and Trends”; Driveresearch; November 18, 2024; webpage accessed December 30, 2025;  https://www.driveresearch.com/market-research-company-blog/new-years-resolutions-statistics/

[4] Haiken, Melanie; “7 Tricks for Keeping Your New Year’s Resolutions”; Kaiser Permanente; webpage accessed December 30, 2025; https://georgia.kaiserpermanente.org/resolutions/

[5] Gibson, James Edwin; “New Year’s Resolutions: Personal Tips on Making and Keeping Them”; Google Blogger; December 31, 2015; webpage accessed December 30, 2025; https://jamesedwingibson.blogspot.com/2015/