Big Island Now poll No. 43: What is your New Year’s resolution for 2024?

It’s New Year’s Day. The start of a new year is full of hopes and aspirations for things to come during the next 365 days, or in 2024’s case 366.

Yes. It’s a presidential election year, which means it’s also a leap year, with an extra day in February. That’s one more day to help achieve your goals — your resolutions.

A 2022 YouGov poll revealed that 37% of Americans said they had a goal or resolution they wanted to achieve last year. Nearly 90% responded they were somewhat or very likely to keep that resolution.

According to Forbes Health, making a New Year’s resolution seems to be even more common in the United States than around the globe, as another study highlighting similar polls in Sweden discovered only 12% to 14% of people set them.

Resolutions run the gamut, but some are more popular than others.

A Forbes/OnePoll that surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults and looked at attitudes Americans have about setting resolutions shows favorite goals for 2024 include:

• Improved fitness (48%)
• Improved finances (38%)
• Improved mental health (36%)
• Lose weight (34%)
• Improved diet (32%)

Others such as traveling more (6%), imbibing less alcohol (3%), meditating regularly (5%) and doing better at work (3%) were less popular.

Data from Statista’s Consumer Insights survey was similar but with a few differences.

The survey was responded to by 417 Americans. Of those answering, the top resolution for 2024 at 59% was saving more money. That was followed by 50% making a goal to exercise more and 47% saying they want to eat healthier.

Coming in fourth at 40% was spending more time with family and friends and rounding out the top five with 35% was losing weight.

Zippia went a step further in 2022 by analyzing Google Trends data, including search queries related to common New Year’s resolutions, to determine what the most popular goals for 2023 would be in each state. Results ranged from saving money, meeting new people, getting better sleep, getting therapy, reading more, saving money and more.

The career website research also revealed the most popular resolution for Hawai’i in 2023 was dating.

Interestingly, the Forbes/OnePoll also found that 62% of the 1,000 Americans responding said they feel pressured to set a new year’s resolution. What about you?

Comment here or on social media about why you voted the way you did. Voting ends at midnight Jan. 5. Results will be posted Jan. 7.