New Year’s induces resolutions all over the country, but a majority of these newfound goals do not stick. As people continued to bear hardships in keeping up with their resolutions, a day came about called National Quitters Day. Multiple studies by universities such as Virginia Tech found that an average of 6% of people keep up with their resolutions. The day may sound like a celebration of abandoning a goal but its purpose remains to encourage reflection, refocusing and a renewed determination.
After research following how people continued with their resolutions around the world, the second Friday of the year became known as National Quitters Day because it seemed that a majority of people would quit their goals before February. This year, the day fell January 10. The day recognizes those who set New Year’s goals and fail to achieve them, which encourages and equips them to try again and hopefully succeed.
The tradition of setting New Year’s resolutions began about 4,000 years ago amongst the ancient Babylonians. The concept of National Quitters Day originated from studies about New Year’s resolutions. Research by fitness apps such as Strava, found that gym attendance drops after the first week of January. In response, wellness advocates who tracked health apps created National Quitters Day, which aimed to shift the narrative from failure to growth and self-awareness.
In 2019, Strava found that approximately 80% of people who set a New Year’s resolution tap out by the second week of January. After observations of user-logged activity, such as gym apps, Strava predicted that the second Friday of January became the fateful day when the motivation of the majority of quitters began to decline. When someone creates a resolution, 90% of the focus on their goal involves exercise, eating habits and weight loss. Recent studies found that about two-thirds of people abandon New Year’s traditions within a month, stemming from a major problem of over-ambition. People typically start with high levels of motivation, but as time progresses, their drive begins to dwindle. The day does not strive to dissuade anyone who desires to set goals and quit, but a day to inspire them to eventually achieve their goals despite all odds.
“I struggle with procrastination and this year I wanted to stop procrastinating as well as get better grades for this semester. I have gained motivation from last year with my procrastination because it is an easier goal than what I had last year. Since the first, I have become more organized with my work and this has helped better my grades as well. Staying on task with my goals helped and I have learned from my past resolutions since I have grown mentally and in a way it has helped with my present goals,” junior Priscilla Morrow said.
A study at Utah State University suggested that a possible reason resolutions fail remains the fact that the goal proves too difficult to manage. Instead of creating close-to-impossible goals, setting goals that represent specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely (SMART) decisions, could guide people in their resolutions. Scholars suggest that keeping resolutions focused — rather than tied to failure — leads to creating realistic goals.
“For the New Year’s I wanted to be a bit nicer and become closer with God. Since I started, I have gained motivation because when I think of my past I get embarrassed. To stay focused I will read my Bible and Scriptures to keep me steady with my resolutions for the year,” sophomore Ava Lewis said.
National Quitters Day exists as a way to celebrate perseverance rather than a representation of failed resolutions. By reflecting on past setbacks and committing to a fresh approach, anyone can turn their aspirations into reality. Taking time to celebrate one’s strengths and what sets one apart, instead of only focusing on what to change, can help individuals choose better options in the future.