Americans resolve to make 2026 better
The Ipsos Consumer Tracker asks Americans questions about culture, the economy and the forces that shape our lives. Here's one thing we learned this week.
Why we asked about New Year's resolutions: Every year, we ask Americans how they resolve to make 2026 better.
What we found: First, I’ll note that we added two new financial options this year that proved to be quite popular. One, “saving more money,” was the most popular. We know from previous waves that budgeting is hard for folks, but 68% also resolve to stick to their budget. Healthy living is also a big resolution from drinking more water to exercising more. Despite our general feeling, seen in Ipsos Global Trends, that we prioritize our physical and mental health at equal and high levels, only 30% plan to start or continue therapy. But we do seem to be looking out for our mental wellness in other ways. Six in ten say they want better work/life balance and 65% want to be more present. Two in three want to get more sleep (which should help with mental and physical wellness) and seven in ten want to express more gratitude.
These results are more or less in line with last year’s resolutions. However, it’s worth noting that even more (61%, up from 53% last year) want to lose weight in 2026. As we look toward oral GLP-1 medications and lower costs for some patients, that could be an interesting signal.
More insights from this wave of the Ipsos Consumer Tracker:
Why Americans will be happy with their gifts this holiday season
2025 gets the rating it deserves from Americans: Between 6 and 7
The Ipsos Vibe Check: Here's how Americans feel about the government this week
The Ipsos Care-o-Meter: What does America know about vs. what does America care about?
