A More Focused Kind of New Year Energy
New Year’s goal setting is still culturally strong, but the tone is shifting. Americans are entering 2026 with more intention, fewer goals, and a clearer preference for progress that feels sustainable instead of perfect.
This survey captures what people want next, how they felt about 2025, and what is landing on their 2026 bucket list across health, money, career, relationships, learning, and personal growth.
Study basis: National survey of 1,067 U.S. adults (18+) fielded December 22, 2025. Mode: online survey.
Toplines at a glance
- Goal setting is the norm: nearly 8 in 10 Americans set New Year’s resolutions, split between clear defined goals (40%) and broader intentions (36%).
- Only 20% think about goals without formally setting them.
- 2025 outcomes were mixed: 12% met all goals, 10% exceeded goals, 26% completed some goals and felt satisfied, 24% wished they accomplished more, and 18% tried but were derailed by circumstances beyond their control.
- Forward planning is high: more than 80% have already started thinking about what they hope to accomplish in 2026.
- Americans are choosing fewer goals: nearly 60% expect to set 2 to 3 goals, about one-quarter will focus on a single goal, and fewer than 20% plan to pursue more than four goals.
- Motivation is strong: 71% feel highly motivated to achieve their 2026 goals (35% extremely motivated, 37% very motivated).
- Optimism is real: 7 in 10 believe 2026 will be better than 2025, including one-third expecting it to be much better.
- Health, finances, and relationships dominate the 2026 bucket list: 56% aim to improve physical health, 60% want to save more money, and 53% plan to spend more time with family and friends.
New Year Mindset: Do Americans Set Resolutions, Intentions, or Just Think About Goals?
For most Americans, the New Year still acts like a reset button. Nearly 8 in 10 people report setting resolutions or goals, and they split into two distinct styles: those who set clear, defined goals (40%) and those who set broader intentions (36%).
Only 20% say they think about goals but do not formally set them, suggesting that goal setting is not just aspirational. It is a common planning behavior.
Generationally, younger adults are more likely to lean into structure. Millennials and Gen Z are significantly more likely to set clear resolutions than Gen X (about 50% versus 28%).
This framing matters because it shows how “resolution culture” is evolving: fewer rigid promises, more flexible goal philosophies, and still a strong desire to start fresh.
Did Americans Set Goals in 2025? And How Did It Go?
Looking back at 2025, most people did not quit. They recalibrated.
About 1 in 5 fully met or exceeded their 2025 goals (12% met all goals and 10% exceeded them). The more common reality is partial progress: 26% completed some goals and felt satisfied, while 24% wished they accomplished more.
Another 18% say they genuinely tried but were derailed by circumstances beyond their control. That signals a “capacity problem,” not a “motivation problem.”
True abandonment is rare. Fewer than 1 in 10 gave up on their goals, and only 2% say they abandoned those specific resolutions for good. Most paused goals roll forward into 2026.
The takeaway is resilience: the dominant behavior is not giving up, but adjusting expectations and trying again with better self-knowledge.
Planning for 2026 Starts Early
More than 80% have already started thinking about what they hope to accomplish in 2026. That level of early engagement suggests goal-setting is increasingly proactive, not just a New Year’s Eve ritual.
Fewer Goals, More Focus: How Many Resolutions Americans Plan to Set
Americans are narrowing the scope. Nearly 60% expect to set just 2 to 3 goals, while about one-quarter plan to focus on a single goal. Fewer than 20% plan to pursue more than four goals in 2026.
Younger adults are more likely to enter 2026 with bigger lists. Millennials and Gen Z are more likely than older adults to set four or more goals, which aligns with their higher tendency to set clear, structured resolutions.
This “less but better” approach suggests a shift away from drastic reinvention and toward a more realistic definition of success: consistent progress.
Motivation Going Into 2026 Is High
Despite mixed outcomes in 2025, Americans are not entering 2026 discouraged. Motivation levels are strong: 71% feel highly motivated to achieve their 2026 goals (35% extremely motivated and 37% very motivated).
This is one of the clearest signals in the study: people still believe change is possible, but they want it to be achievable and supported by systems.
Key insight: Americans are entering 2026 with measured optimism. They are not abandoning goals — they are refining them into something sustainable, with fewer targets and stronger intention.
The 2026 Bucket List: What Americans Want Across Life Domains
The 2026 bucket list is grounded in well-being and stability. Health goals, financial goals, relationships, and personal fulfillment dominate, while high-risk or high-pressure life changes are less common.
Across categories, the pattern is consistent: manageable, day-to-day improvements outrank dramatic transformation.
Health “Bingo Card”: Consistency Beats Extremes
Physical health leads the agenda: 56% plan to improve physical health or fitness, and 51% plan to eat healthier or meal prep more often.
Mental health remains central: 48% intend to focus on mental health, stress reduction, or burnout recovery. Another 45% aim to be more consistent with self-care, sleep, and daily routines.
Only 3% report having no health-related goals for 2026, suggesting near-universal engagement with well-being priorities.
Financial “Bingo Card”: Saving Leads, Stability Matters
Saving dominates financial intent. Six in ten Americans identify saving more money as a top financial goal for 2026.
Around 40% plan to improve budgeting habits, increase income or start a side hustle, and/or pay down debt.
Major purchases appear less common: fewer than 20% anticipate buying a home or car next year. Only 4% say they have no financial goals at all.
Education and Upskilling: Curiosity-Driven Learning
Learning a new skill or hobby is a leading educational goal: 42% plan to do so in 2026.
One-third expect to consume more educational content through books, podcasts, or similar formats, showing a preference for low-barrier learning. Formal education is less common, with only 1 in 5 planning to enroll in or complete a higher education program.
Still, 21% report no educational or upskilling goals, indicating a meaningful opt-out segment.
Career and Professional Goals: Balance Competes With Ambition
The leading career goal is improving work-life balance or flexibility (30%).
Mobility remains in play: nearly three in ten hope to secure a new job or promotion, and one-quarter plan to increase pay or benefits.
At the same time, 27% do not have explicit professional goals for 2026, reflecting a segment prioritizing stability or non-work life domains.
Leisure and Lifestyle: Experiences and Rest Are Part of the Plan
Experiences over possessions remains a defining theme. Nearly half aim to try new experiences or activities, and 43% plan to travel more in 2026.
About one-third plan to reduce screen time, prioritize rest, and expand their social circles.
In other words, lifestyle goals are less about achievement and more about quality of life.
Relationships and Community: Connection Comes First
Spending more time with family and friends is the top lifestyle goal for 2026 (53%), reflecting how strongly people associate “a better year” with stronger relationships.
There is also a romance-without-pressure segment: 30% hope to strengthen romantic relationships next year, but only 12% plan to get engaged or married before 2026 ends.
Personal Goals: Joy, Boundaries, and Self-Development
Joy is a guiding principle: focusing on joy, happiness, and self-care is the top personal priority for 2026 (55%).
42% aim to focus on personal growth or self-improvement, and 4 in 10 plan to strengthen boundaries or organize their lives. One in five have plans to start or resume therapy in 2026.
Key insight: Americans’ 2026 goals reflect a shift toward sustainability, balance, and emotional well-being. Across domains, the preference is clear: fewer extremes, more stability, more joy, and more manageable day-to-day progress.
Accountability: Systems Beat Willpower
Americans are building structure around follow-through, and external accountability leads.
Six in ten Americans (61%) rely on coaches, trainers, or financial advisors to stay accountable. One-third write goals down or create detailed plans (34%), and 30% use digital tools or apps for tracking and reminders.
Personal accountability is less common: only 19% rely on family or friends, and just 10% depend solely on self-check-ins without any formal system.
What Gets in the Way: Momentum, Stress, and Time
The biggest barriers are predictable and human. Losing momentum over time remains a major challenge for nearly half of Americans (45%).
Financial pressure, burnout, and stress are also frequently cited obstacles, each affecting roughly 4 in 10 Americans. Lack of time is another major constraint, cited by 3 in 10.
Unexpected life events (22%), uncertainty about where to start (18%), and imposter syndrome (18%) still hinder progress for a meaningful segment.
How People Feel Right Now: The Emotional State of Goal-Setting
Underneath the goals, there is an emotional storyline. Many people feel motivated and hopeful, but they also recognize the realities that can derail progress.
This question captures that real-time mindset — the way people feel about their goals right now, before the year begins in earnest.
Will 2026 Be Better? Optimism Is a Cultural Signal
Finally, this study closes with a simple but powerful indicator: expectation.
Seven in ten believe 2026 will be better than 2025, including one-third expecting it to be much better. That optimism helps explain why motivation remains high even after mixed outcomes in 2025.
What This Means: A Measured, Hopeful Blueprint for 2026
This is not a nation chasing dramatic reinvention. It is a nation choosing manageable progress.
Most Americans are entering 2026 focused on health, stability, relationships, and emotional well-being. They are setting fewer goals, seeking more structure, and holding onto optimism that the year ahead will be better than the one behind them.
For brands and leaders, the implication is clear: solutions positioned as supportive, flexible, and stress-aware will resonate far more than those framed around discipline, hustle, or pressure.
