New Year’s Resolutions: The Top Resolutions in 2020
December 4, 2020
By
Aaliyah Gibson
What do you plan to accomplish in the new year?
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When the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, many individuals grab their journal or mentally note their goals for the new year. Hitting the gym, chasing passions and getting finances in order might be common goals you’ve hoped to accomplish in the past.
According to YouGov, an international research data and analytics group, 28% of Americans planned to make New Year’s resolutions in 2020. Millennials were among the most likely to make resolutions with 39% of the group saying they planned to do so. Almost 30% of Gen Xers and 19% of baby boomers planned to follow suit.
If you’re hoping to set some new goals heading into 2021, here are the top New Year’s resolutions from 2020 to jump-start your list.
Methodology
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To determine the top New Year’s resolutions Americans chose for 2020, YouGov surveyed 1,174 U.S. adults in Dec. 2019. The figures have been weighted so they are representative of all U.S. adults.
Exercise more
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Among the 28% of Americans who made New Year’s resolutions at the end of 2019, the most popular resolution was to exercise more. Fifty percent of Americans said they planned to exercise.
Save money
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Overspending on the holidays is a common budgeting mistake many individuals make. So it makes sense that saving money would be one of the top New Year’s resolutions. According to YouGov, 49% of Americans said they planned to save money at the beginning of 2020.
Eat more healthily
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After indulging in classic hearty holiday recipes, you might crave a salad come Jan. 1. If that’s the case, you’re among the 43% of Americans who planned to eat more healthily during 2020.
Lose weight
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Weight loss was the fourth-most common New Year’s resolution this past year, with 37% of Americans choosing the goal for 2020.
Reduce stress
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Everyday stress can worsen your sleep, increase the risk of stroke and weaken your immune system. Heading into 2020, 34% of Americans resolved to reduce stress.
Learning how to successfully budget and save money is a common desire, but according to YouGov, 30% of Americans made a yearly goal to stick to a budget in 2020.
Focus on spiritual growth
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Twenty-eight percent of Americans resolved to focus on their spiritual growth in 2020.
Travel more
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Travel, as we know it, has changed due to the coronavirus pandemic, but at the beginning of the year, 25% of Americans planned to travel more in the new year.
Learn a new skill
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Spending more time indoors this year has increased the likelihood of learning fun new skills, so the 25% of Americans who planned to learn a new skill in 2020 might have knocked that goal off the list.
Since March, families have had to find creative ways to stay in touch. At the beginning of the year, when things were much simpler, 24% of Americans resolved to spend more time with their family.
Improve relationship with a partner
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According to YouGov, 24% of Americans planned to give toxic relationships the boot and resolved to improve their relationship with their partner. For couples struggling with communication and boundaries this year, here are some expert tips.
Make more friends
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Nineteen percent of Americans said their 2020 resolution was to build friendships and make more friends.