Whether you are someone that makes New Year's resolutions or not I always find it interesting to know exactly what act of self-improvement it is people are dedicating their year to. You often hear exercise, losing weight, and eating better as steady flagship New Year's resolutions throughout the year, but are people following through on them? Are there other goals being set this year? Here we will take a look at New Year's resolutions trends of 2023, the best ways to sustainably follow through on them, and how a skylight can help!
Here is some interesting data on New Year's resolutions made in 2023 based on a new survey from Forbes Health/OnePoll. Comprised of 1,005 adults, this study takes note of Americans' attitudes toward New Year's resolutions and what types of goals were prioritized.
Most Common New Years Resolutions
- Improved mental health (45%)
- Improved fitness (39%)
- Lose weight (37%)
- Improved diet (33%)
- Improved finances (30%)
Least Common New Years Resolutions
- Stop smoking (14%)
- Learn a new skill (12%)
- Make time for hobbies (11%)
- Travel more (9%)
- Drink less alcohol (8%)
Now that you have some data on what people are committing themselves to in 2023, here is some helpful information on how many people are following through on their New Year's resolutions and ways you can beat the odds when it comes to following through on them.
How Long Does a New Year's Resolution Last?
If you have ever made a new years resolution you know all too well how difficult it can be to keep up with. Just know, you are not alone. According to the same study, 55% of participants did not follow through on their goals for the year. Here is a breakdown of how long the respondents lasted in the year.
- 11% - 6 months
- 14% - 3 months
- 19% - 1 month
- 11- less than a month
With that in mind, 45% of people were able to follow through on their New Year's resolutions.
Ways to Keep your New Year's Resolution
Set action-oriented goals - While wanting to improve your mental health and fitness is great, the goal itself is not very actionable. Set a "subgoal" to reach that will help you reach those broadly phrased goals such as, running twice a week or meditating once a day. By following through on actionable subtasks you can better achieve the larger goal.
Set achievable goals - When setting goals, don't try to boil the ocean. Set a goal that is manageable in the long term. Sure, you can run every day for a week maybe even two, but over the course of a year, things will happen. You get injured, you're not motivated that day, or you get sick. While dreaming big is great, you need to set realistic goals to get you through the day-to-day. Achieve the small goal in front of you in order to have the capacity to set bigger goals in the future.
Cut yourself some slack - If you eat a chocolate bar or sleep in, it's okay. Have some grace for yourself. You are not resetting because you missed a day or a week. Think big picture, over the course of a year you want to make sure you are hitting your goal most of the time. It is okay if you slip just be sure to get back up.
Accountability - In a perfect world, find someone on the same path as you are to keep each other accountable. It really does go a long way when you have a like-minded support group whether that be a friend, your parents, or even an online community. There is no excuse for not being able to find accountability. Today's modern world makes it easy to find a support group on Facebook or Reddit very easily.
How Skylights Can Help
I know what you're thinking, how on earth are we going to land this plane with skylights? I would be lying if I said a skylight is the most important thing when it comes to achieving your New Year's resolutions, but I can say with certainty that the natural light and fresh air from a skylight can have various health and mood benefits that can set you up for success.
Vitamin D
It seems like lately, Vitamin D is everywhere. In the news, on TV, even your neighbor across the street has something to say about Vitamin D's health benefits. Are they true or is the good old neighbor on about something else again?
According to a Harvard study, Vitamin D is known to help the body retain and absorb calcium phosphorous. If you are a civilian who was asleep most of the time in high school biology like me, you may not know that the absorption of calcium and phosphorus in the body helps to build stronger bones, reduce the growth of cancer cells, help control infections and reduce inflammation. All of these are key aspects of staying healthy and in turn, achieving your goal.
Circadian Rhythm
Your Circadian Rhythm is that trendy health term your son-in-law has been raving about and for a good reason. It is your internal clock that controls the natural cycle of physical and mental changes throughout the day. Your Circadian clock is dictated by light and darkness, daytime and nighttime It's what naturally tells your body when to sleep, eat and wake up.
An infusion of natural light into your home during the cold months helps to regulate your Circadian Rhythm. In other words: natural light helps to create a healthy sleep cycle which is imperative for optimal overall health. Go ahead, and read that one more time.
Serotonin
How did we get here? Reading about serotonin on a Tuesday morning while the kids are probably drawing on the walls as we speak. No worries, I think the same thing: wanted to be a firefighter when I was little and now I'm writing about serotonin. That's showbiz, baby! Serotonin is the chemical that is associated with giving you more energy, helping you stay calmer (kids are drawing on the wall as we speak), positive, and focused. And, as you may have guessed: natural light and sunlight from a skylight facilitate the production of serotonin to help you stay positive, happy, and healthy during the new year.
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