It's time for the "New Year, new me" motto and as far as 2018 New Year's resolutions are concerned, people mostly want to become better and lose weight.
Losing weight has always been one of the top New Year's resolutions, especially if it comes after a holiday vacation full of excesses. For many people, Christmas week involves great amounts of food of all sorts, dinner parties, alcohol, and plenty of sweets.
It's not uncommon for people to gain a few pounds over the holidays, so it's not that surprising that losing weight is at the top of people's New Year's resolutions. This year, however, it shares the top spot with another pledge: being a better person. As always, people also aspire to healthier lifestyles.
2018 New Year's Resolutions: The Marist Poll
According to the Marist Poll, losing weight and being a better person share the top spot as the most common New Year's resolutions for 2018, each with a 12 percent share. Meanwhile, 9 percent of Americans making New Year's resolutions pledge to eat healthier, exercise more, and get a better job, while 7 percent want to become healthier overall in the year to come.
Another popular resolution at the beginning of each year is to quit smoking, and this year it takes a 6 percent share. Another 6 percent of people, meanwhile, plan to cut their spending and put more money aside. A hefty 30 percent of those polled had different resolutions.
2017 vs. 2018 New Year's Resolutions
As 2017 was kicking off, 16 percent of people who made a New Year's resolution wanted to be better persons. Weight loss and exercising more shared the second spot, with a 10 percent share each.
Last year, 7 percent of people pledged to improve their overall health, cut their spending, and opt for healthier meals. Only 5 percent of people planned to get a better job. A solid 43 percent of those polled last year had a different resolution than the most popular ones.
All in all, it seems that health-related goals are the most common New Year's resolutions each year, and 2018 is no different.
"With weight loss tying for the number-one resolution and exercise and healthy eating making the top five, health is top of mind," says Dr. Lee M. Miringoff, director of The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion.
Judging by past years' goals and achievements, many people are expected to work on their New Year's resolutions at least for part of 2018. Of those who made New Year's resolutions for 2017, 68 percent reportedly respected their pledge at least partially.
Not all Americans set New Year's resolutions, however, as 56 percent don't plan on setting such goals as they start 2018.
Have you set any New Year's resolutions? Let us know in the comments section below.
