We asked over 1,000 Americans how long is reasonable to keep a New Year’s resolution, and expectations are low

AP Photo/Go Nakamura

• INSIDER polled more than 1,000 people living in the US about New Year's resolutions, specifically how long they should last. 
• Most Americans agree that, if you're going to resolve to try something new in 2019, you should try to stick to it for at least a few months. 
• That advice squares well with what scientists know about behavior change, but they also say it's best to start small and be specific.

On New Year's Eve, when spirits are bright, it can feel like a hopeful moment to pin one's ambitions on being a far better person in 2019. The truth, however, is a bit bleaker. We often aim too high with our new year's goals, with 80% of people failing New Year's resolutions by February.

But still, year after year, we continue to make (and break) these goals. Perhaps because we think we can make it last a little longer. 

To get a sense for how long people think resolutions should last, INSIDER, a sister publication of Business Insider, asked more than 1,000 Americans "how many months is it reasonable to expect someone to keep a New Year's resolution?" 

Here's a month-by-month breakdown of their expectations, and some tips to help you stick to your goals for longer than what others might expect. 

 

94% of respondents said people should keep their resolutions for at least one month.

Yana Paskova/Getty

The type of resolution you make could play a part in the success rate. Yale psychology Professor John Bargh previously told Business Insider that the most successful resolutions are small, reasonable changes that we can seamlessly incorporate into existing daily routines.

He says you shouldn't even try to bust a big bad habit or start a new regimen unless you really, really want to, because otherwise the resolution likely won't stick. Behavior change is hard. 

 

By the end of February, 22% of people have decided it's OK to give up on new habits.

REUTERS/Aaron Lynett

Still, a majority of Americans — 86% — say it's best to keep chipping away at your New Year's goals.

To maintain new behaviors, psychology professor Wendy Wood at the University of Southern California says you should put them into practice in routine, easy-to-follow ways. In other words, if you make a New Year's resolution a habit or daily reflex, it's more likely to stick.

78% of those surveyed think it's still a good idea to maintain new year's ambitions at the three-month mark.

Xinhua

But by the end of March, 35% of respondents think it's fine if your resolutions have gone by the wayside. 

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

See Also:

• We asked 1,000 Americans what they think Trump's New Year's resolutions should be. Here's what they told us.
• 6 top VCs give their best 2019 predictions for healthcare, from a biotech correction to a 'shadow cash economy' stepping into the light
• The 50 US states ranked from most to least healthy

SEE ALSO: How to actually make and keep New Year's resolutions, according to a behavioral scientist

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