New Year’s Resolution Success Rate: What the Numbers Reveal

New Year’s resolutions are something of a tradition, and millions of people always take the opportunity to make personal growth, health, and success resolutions. But keeping these resolutions is notorious. Knowing the success rates and what you can expect in terms of common obstacles will benefit you in planning better in 2025 and making your goals there.

How Many People Succeed At New Years Resolutions?

General Statistics

Overall Success Rates

• Only about 9 percent of people actually keep their New Year’s resolution for the entire year.
• Within the first week, 23 percent of resolutions are abandoned.
• Only 64% of them last through February.

Success by Age Group

Those as young as 18–34 seem the most competent, achieving a 16 percent success rate vs. 10 percent for those older than 55.

Younger people may be more adaptable or motivated, so they may simply be faster to reach the first stage.

(Source: Inc. and Statista)

Why Do Resolutions Fail?

Common Challenges

Unrealistic Goals

• Over half (35%) of people make them overly ambitious, or vague.
• Example: “The next site recommends that you lose 50 pounds in two months, or become fluent in a new language this March.”

Lack of Accountability

• Many don’t stay consistent because there is no support or a tracking system to help them stay on track.
• Lack of accountability is what makes 25% of people stopping their goals.

Loss of Motivation

• Of the people, 23 percent lose enthusiasm in the wake of initial set backs or slow progress.

Poor Time Management

• A lot of people don’t leave enough time or establish priorities to accomplish their resolutions.

Factors That Increase Your Success Rate

Setting SMART Goals

• 42% more likely to succeed if the goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-limited.

Tracking Progress

• Thirty percent of people end up accomplishing their goals when they monitor their own progress frequently.
• Journals, apps, or the Fix My Life AI platform are tools that help with monitoring process.

Accountability Partners

• You’re 33% more likely to succeed at your resolutions when you share them with a friend or family member (or even a mentor!).

How To Break Goals Into Smaller Steps

• Breaking it down one step at a time keeps you moving forward, and prevents overwhelm.

Success Rates for Categories

Health and Fitness

• 48% of all those resolutions aim at bettering health.
• Weight loss, exercise, healthy eating are the most common.
• Success Rate: Only about 20 percent stay faithful to those goals for all 12 months.

Career and Professional Goals

• About 20 percent are about career advancement or further developing a skill.
• Success Rate: Lesser than about 12% do realize long term success as the milestones are clearer and there is some external motivation.

Financial Goals

• 19% aim at saving money, paying off debt or managing their finances better.
• Success Rate: Tools like budgeting app helps maintain 15% of the people in keeping their financial resolutions.

Relationships

• 11% of resolutions are about improving relationships, personal or professional.
• Success Rate: Most often, these goals require mutual efforts and only 18% achieve lasting improvement.

(Source: Forbes and Psychology Today)

How to ensure your New Year’s Resolution is a success

1. Set Realistic Goals

• It’s about finding resolutions that are achievable for you at your current level of resources and lifestyle.

2. Use the SMART Framework

• Example: Instead of telling yourself to “exercise more,” make a SMART goal that is like “exercise 30 minutes, 5 times a week, for three months.”

3. Track Progress

• Other apps like Fix My Life AI, or a journal, are great to track your daily or weekly achievements.

4. Build Accountability

• Keep motivating by sharing your goals with a trusted friend or get in a support group.

5. Celebrate Milestones

• Staying motivated for the big picture means rewarding yourself with smaller steps to that end.

6. Be Kind to Yourself

• Remember that slips can occur, and accept that you are only doomed if you stop at it and give up.

How Fix My Life AI Can Help

Fix My Life AI is an AI-powered platform designed to help you achieve your resolutions with:

• Goal Templates: Group resolutions into themes such as health, career and finances.
• Progress Dashboards: Able to visualize achievements (or lack thereof) and refine strategies along the way.
• Daily Motivation: Get reminded and get affirmed to stay on target.
• Personalized Advice: You get AI driven insights to more effectively overcome challenges.

Conclusion

New Year’s resolutions, while they have a low success rate, really do work if you use the correct strategies and tools. The 9% who achieve their resolutions in 2025 will do some of the following but mostly: setting realistic goals, tracking progress, and being accountable.

Fix My Life AI is all you need now to start planning and tracking your goals and see this year as your most successful!

ADDITIONAL READING

How Many New Year’s Resolutions Fail

New Year’s resolution statistics and success rates

Does New Year’s Resolution Actually Work?