For you, does it feel like 2020 lasted forever? We can relate. Some of our team members’ early pandemic memories (such as the Netflix show Tiger King) are starting to feel like they happened years (not just months) ago!
What first comes to mind when we ask you about the New Year’s resolutions you set last year?
Are you turning away from your screen and feeling guilty…
…or on the contrary, did the pandemic enable you to finally get back to the fitness routine you never felt like you had time for?
On the other hand, do you not believe in New Year’s resolutions at all?
We asked Canadians and Americans all about the New Year’s resolutions they set last year and which resolutions they’ll be setting this year (if any).
Here’s what they said!
19% of Canadians and 24% of Americans made New Year’s resolutions at the beginning of 2020.
Canadians and Americans aged 18-34 are more likely than those aged 35 or older to say they made New Year’s resolutions last year.
Did they achieve the resolutions they set? Sort of…
Given the pandemic, the New Year’s resolutions they set may not have been the highest priority on Canadians’ and Americans’ to-do lists, and rightfully so.
So, did those who set New Year’s resolutions achieve them? Among those who made resolutions in 2020…
- 56% of Canadians and 68% of Americans said they completely or somewhat achieved their resolutions
- 28% of Canadians and 17% of Americans said they achieved their resolutions “a little”
- 14% of Canadians and 15% of Americans said they did not achieve their resolutions at all
Was COVID-19 the reason they did not achieve their resolutions?
We asked those who did not and those who only achieved their resolutions a little whether this was mostly due to COVID-19, something else, or a combination of the two.
- The greatest proportion (40% of Canadians and 46% of Americans) indicated that something else was the main cause
- 27% of Canadians and 31% of Americans indicated it was COVID-19
- 29% of Canadians and 17% of Americans indicated it was a combination of COVID-19 and other factors
The proportion who plan to make New Year’s resolutions this year is similar to the proportion who made them in 2020.
22% of Canadians and 27% of Americans indicate they plan to make New Year’s resolutions for 2021, which is similar to the proportion who said they made resolutions last year. Younger Canadians and Americans (aged 18-34) were more likely to say they plan to make resolutions this year.
The top resolutions are related to mental health, physical health, and saving money.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced many Canadians and Americans into their homes in an attempt to prevent the spread of the virus, which meant that many faced a more sedentary lifestyle than they were used to for months on end. For many, this sedentary lifestyle is still present, especially given the dropping temperatures outside. Understandably, this has impacted Canadians’ and Americans’ physical and mental health.
Furthermore, the pandemic was very financially difficult for hundreds of thousands of Canadians and Americans, with people losing their jobs, small businesses going under, having to take time off work to care for their children, and more.
The Top 5 New Year’s resolutions Canadians plan to make this year (among those planning to make resolutions) are:
- Being more active/improving their fitness level (65%)
- Improving their eating habits/eating healthier (54%)
- Losing weight (52%)
- Improving their finances/saving more money (50%)
- Improving their mental health (49%)
The Top 5 New Year’s resolutions Americans plan to make this year (among those planning to make resolutions) are:
- Being more active/improving their fitness level (48%)
- Losing weight (46%)
- Improving their finances/saving more money (43%) and/or improving their mental health (43%)
- Improving their eating habits/eating healthier (41%)
- Being more organized (38%)
Three-quarters of those planning to make 2021 New Year’s resolutions say that the pandemic influenced the resolutions they plan to make.
Among Canadians and Americans who said they plan to make New Year’s Resolutions in 2021, 76% (of both Canadians and Americans) indicate that the pandemic has influenced the resolutions they decided on. One-in-five said that the pandemic had no influence at all.
Among those who plan to make 2021 New Year’s resolutions:
- 22% of Canadians and 38% of Americans say the pandemic had a major influence on the resolutions they are planning
- 33% of Canadians and 30% of Americans say the pandemic had a moderate influence
- 21% of Canadians and 8% of Americans say the pandemic had a minor influence
- 21% of Canadians and 21% of Americans say the pandemic had no influence at all
Looking to the future…
We want to take a moment to acknowledge the severe hardships (psychological, physical, financial, and other) that many Canadians and Americans experienced in 2020. Whether you decide to set New Year’s resolutions or not, we hope that 2021 is brighter for you!
HAVE YOU DECIDED TO MAKE NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS THIS YEAR, OR ARE YOU SKIPPING THIS PROCESS ALTOGETHER?
TELL US IN THE COMMENTS BELOW!
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