How many people give up on their goals and when is ‘Quitter’s Day’?

It’s the first week of January, which means the gyms are probably full, “Dry January” is as hip as ever and it seems as if everyone is looking to shed a few kilos.

‘Tis the season for New Year’s resolution. But how long do these goals last? And how many people want to see their resolutions continue through an entire calendar year?

It is difficult to make “new year, new you” mindset stick, according to a 2023 study by Dr. Michelle Rozen, a bestselling author and psychologist who is also known as “The Change Doctor.”

Rozen’s findings suggest that only 6% of people keep their New Year’s resolutions.

The survey-based study focused on 999 participants aged 20 to 60. Of the group, more than 80% of participants set a New Year’s resolution – but the resolutions were not long kept.

Almost a third of goalkeepers gave up their hopes in January. Another 63.5% of participants stopped pursuing their goals in February. Only 53 people reported sticking to their goals in June, according to the survey results.

When is ‘Quitter’s Day’?

The second Friday in January is often referred to as Quitter’s Day, when many people will abandon their set resolutions, according to Spectrum Health.

This year, Quitter’s Day falls on Friday, January 10. Will your resolutions survive Quitter’s Day in 2025?

What are the most popular New Year’s resolutions?

A New Year’s resolution can be anything, but these were the most common New Year’s resolutions for 2025, according to a Statistica survey from 2024.

  1. Spend more time with family/friends (14%)

The Statistica survey, which involved 1,050 Americans aged 18 to 80, asked participants to identify their 2025 resolutions from 15 options and allowed for multiple choices. This study also found that 43% of participants did not set a New Year’s resolution.

Tips for keeping your New Year’s resolutions

Don’t give up on yourself! Here are some tips to be in the 6% of successful goal-setters this year, according to the experts.

  • Make a realistic plan. Set a goal and break it down into smaller, more manageable parts.

  • Find an accountability partner.

  • Keep it simple. Stick to just one or two goals.

  • Act like someone who has already reached the goal. Fake it till you make it.

Texas Connect Team reporter Alexis Simmerman contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on the Knoxville News Sentinel: How many people give up on New Year’s resolutions before Quitter’s Day?