How Many Resolutions Actually Stick?
Happy 2nd of January! If you’re reading this, congratulations—you’re still at least pretending to chase down your New Year’s resolutions and haven’t yet succumbed to the gravitational pull of the Quality Street tin. This article is a follow-up to yesterday’s piece, where I mused that Spring is a much better time to begin a big new regime. But here we are—winter in the UK, the dark mornings stretching out like an empty credit card statement, and the gym suddenly full of people in suspiciously crisp sportswear. Let’s be honest: statistically, most New Year’s resolutions are about as persistent as the British sun in January. Recent figures show just under 1 in 10 people (about 8%) keep their resolutions for a single month, with only 22% still holding onto them by March. Most people start feeling the wheels wobble right about now, and by the time daffodils show up, gyms everywhere have tumbleweed rolling between the squat racks. Specifically, up to 80% of new gym members quit within five months—and a significant chunk have vanished by the end of February. So if you’re still lacing up your gym trainers by Pancake Day, you’re already in the upper decile! Building Habits: The (Not So) Magic Number You might have heard it takes 21 days to form a habit. Sorry to say, it’s a myth propagated by self-help books clinging on longer than your average January diet. The gold-standard research by Phillippa Lally at UCL found that, on average, it takes 66 days of consistent behaviour for a new habit to become automatic. For some people, it’s as short as 18 days, for others, a whopping 254 days—your mileage may vary depending on the habit, motivation, and your tendency to get distracted by reality TV. So, if you’re feeling disheartened by your mid-winter wobble, remember: you’re still well within the ‘normal’ teething period. Tips For Making Resolutions Stick - Start small: Minor, sustainable changes beat massive overhauls. - Habit stacking: Attach your new behaviour to an existing routine (e.g., do your push-ups while waiting for the kettle). - Track it: Don’t rely on memory—use a calendar or app to mark each day you complete your target. - Social support: Let friends, family, or an online community know your plans. They’ll help keep you honest (and it’s harder to skip leg day when your mates are watching). - Celebrate wins: Give yourself a mental gold star for progress, not perfection.