New Year’s Resolutions Waning In Popularity Amongst Icelanders

A new poll from Maskína indicates that holding New Year’s resolutions is waning in popularity overall, but maintains popularity with specific demographics.

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According to the poll results, only 15.7% of Icelanders said they were maintaining some kind of New Year’s resolution this year. This is down from 20% the previous year, 21.1% in 2019 and 21.6% in 2018.

More precise demographics show women were more likely to hold New Year’s resolutions than men, at 17.3% against 14.3%. Those aged 18 to 29 were far more likely, at 27%, to have a resolution than the next highest age group, those aged 40 to 49, 17.3% of whom said they made resolutions. Singles (24%) were also much more likely than married or otherwise coupled people (13.2%) and the divorced (10.7%) to have resolutions.

There were even differences in terms of political party affiliation. Voters for the Left-Greens were the most likely to make New Year’s resolutions, at 21.7%, while voters for the Centre Party were least likely, at 4.9%.

All this said, it should be pointed out that you can choose any day of the year to live your life differently, and if you break some small promise to yourself, to take it easy on yourself; progress is seldom a steady inclined curve.