News Beat
The exact day you need to be strong as it’s when you’re most likely to give up on your New Year’s Resolutions
MILLIONS of people kick off their new year by setting resolutions to stick to for the 12 months ahead.
But if you’re one of them, there’s a date just around the corner that could end up with you sacking off your 2026 plan.
The day in question is January 9 – also known as ‘Quitter Friday’ – when a whopping third of resolution-setters (29%) will ditch their pledges.
According to new research from the Trainline, Gen Z are the quickest to give up on their resolutions – with more than half (57%) coming up with resolutions before dropping them by the time January ends.
In comparison, only 35% of Millennials, will succumb to Quitter Friday, along with 22% of Gen Xers and 18% of Boomers.
The research showed that nearly half of people (49%) blamed a lack of motivation for throwing in the towel, while 34% say they don’t have the time and 26% can’t afford it.
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While 24% of people simply realise their goals were “unrealistic”.
One of the most commonly set resolutions is to lose weight and stick to a regular fitness regime.
And if you’re one of the people who challenged themselves to the latter – and are struggling to stay on track – there are a few simple tricks you can try to help.
According to Peloton Tread Instructor Jon Hosking, habit stacking can be a game changer when it comes to building routines you can sustain for the whole year.
To try your luck with habit stacking, you can begin by anchoring any new ones you want to achieve to existing ones.
For example, you could pair movement with something else you already do daily, such as having a short stretching session after your morning coffee.
Another thing that can be helpful is to add workout sessions to your calendar as if they are meetings – making them “non-negotiable calendar commitments” in the process.
To keep yourself motivated, Jon advises mixing things up with different exercise classes, instructors and session lengths.
Remember that “short, consistent workouts beat all-or-nothing goals”, and keep in mind that consistency is the real win – it’s not about instant perfection.
If you’ve focused your New Year’s resolution on your diet, there are some similar tips that can help you stay on track.
Chartered psychologist Kimberley Wilson suggested that instead of removing “bad” foods from your diet and adding “good foods”, try to think about which can “support your brain”.
“Foods that protect your brain tend to support your heart and overall wellbeing too,” she told the BBC.
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- Out with the old, before in with the new
“It may sound a little ruthless but a one in, one out rule in your home and wardrobe can be effective to avoid over accumulating items in your home,” they said.
“It can also make you more mindful about the purchases you are making.”
“In any space, however big or small – from a utility room to your make-up box – organising items by category is the perfect way to keeping super organised,” they said.
“This allows you to know exactly where everything is and what you’ve got.
“Plus, it will make it super easy for the rest of the household to put away and keep tidy.”
- Storage, storage and more storage!
“Storage is key, especially if space is an issue in the home or if the room is used for items like storing toys for children,” they said.
“Consider decorative storage baskets, side boards with plenty of storage or even a media wall or bookshelves with doors.”
“When you focus on nourishment, the mindset shifts from ‘what must I cut?’ To ‘what can I add?’”
Becoming healthier isn’t about “perfection or punishment”, Kimberley added – just “cover your baselines, feed your brain and body” and remember that you “CAN still have dessert”.
“Pleasure belongs in a healthy life,” she concluded.
