New Year’s Resolution Intent Reaches Record high, but what jumped ahead of managing spending?

Americans are entering 2026 with a stronger-than-ever commitment to self-improvement. According to CivicScience tracking over the past decade, intent to set a New Year’s resolution has reached an all-time high. Nearly 70% of U.S. adults say they plan to make a resolution for 2026, marking a notable increase compared with prior years and signaling renewed optimism as the new year begins.

Health-related goals continue to dominate Americans’ resolution plans, consistent with long-standing trends. Improving food and diet ranks as the most common resolution, followed closely by better fitness or exercise. These two categories have remained firmly entrenched at the top of the list, reflecting sustained interest in physical health and wellness across the population. While the top priorities remain stable, notable shifts are occurring further down the rankings. Plans to quit drinking and smoking increased by five percentage points year over year, moving ahead of managing finances and spending to claim third place among resolution categories. This change suggests growing attention to behavioral health and lifestyle habits as Americans evaluate their long-term well-being.

Managing finances and spending, once a stronger contender among top resolutions, has slipped slightly in relative importance. While still a significant concern for many households, it now trails quitting drinking and smoking, indicating a rebalancing of priorities as consumers head into 2026. Additional resolution categories continue to draw smaller but meaningful shares of respondents. Working on relationships or personal traits remains a mid-tier goal, while helping others or giving back appeals to a smaller yet steady portion of Americans planning a resolution. Collectively, the data points to a broad focus on self-care, with health — both physical and behavioral — at the center of Americans’ aspirations for the new year.

CivicScience data also reveals important differences by age group, particularly relevant as older Americans consider their own goals for 2026. While intent to improve food and diet is relatively consistent across generations, other priorities vary significantly depending on age. Older Americans are more likely than younger adults to prioritize fitness and exercise as part of their New Year’s resolutions. This emphasis reflects a focus on maintaining strength, mobility, and overall physical health later in life. In addition to fitness, older respondents show a greater inclination toward helping others or giving back, suggesting that community involvement and social contribution become increasingly important goals with age.

In contrast, younger adults — especially Millennials — are more likely to focus on quitting drinking and smoking. This resolution category is notably more prominent among younger consumers than among older age groups, highlighting generational differences in health concerns and lifestyle habits. Younger Americans are also comparatively less likely to place fitness at the very top of their resolution list, even as overall interest in health remains high. Managing finances and spending shows more variation across age groups as well. While financial discipline remains a common goal, it does not dominate resolution planning to the same extent as health-related objectives, particularly among older Americans who may be more focused on maintaining quality of life and well-being.

New Year's Resolution spending; graphic by CivicScience — New Year’s Resolution spending; graphic by CivicScience

Across generations, working on relationships or personality traits maintains a consistent but secondary presence among resolution plans. While not among the top-tier goals, these resolutions continue to reflect Americans’ interest in personal growth beyond physical health. The overall increase in resolution intent stands out as one of the most significant findings in the CivicScience data. After years of fluctuation, the nearly 70% participation rate suggests that Americans are approaching 2026 with a renewed sense of purpose. Whether driven by health concerns, lifestyle changes, or broader reflections on personal priorities, more adults than ever are planning to set goals for the year ahead.

For older Americans in particular, the data underscores a continued emphasis on fitness, healthy eating, and giving back — goals closely tied to longevity, independence, and community engagement. As resolution-making reaches record levels, the trends suggest that the start of 2026 will be marked not only by tradition, but by a widespread commitment to meaningful, health-centered change.