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Most North Shore readers don't make New Year's resolutions

Studies have shown only about half of those who make self-improvement goals stay on track. But there are ways to improve the odds, say experts.
ny-resolutions
What is your New Year's resolution? Or – like most North Shore residents – do you shy away from making them?

The North Shore isn't a very resolute, if the latest poll results are any indication.

Whether they just didn't get around to it, don't believe in it, are afraid of looking into that dark abyss of self-reflection or are just perfect the way they are, over 83 per cent of local residents who responded to a recent online poll by the North Shore News said they don't make New Year's resolutions. Only about 17 per cent of polled readers copped to making resolutions.

Traditionally, the beginning of the calendar year has been a time when we resolve to change an undesirable trait or behaviour or accomplish a personal goal. Historically, the tradition has parallels in many religious faiths, although these days resolutions are more likely to include losing weight, exercising, changing jobs or quitting smoking as self-improvement projects.

Degrees of a success vary. One large-scale study found only about half of those who make New Year's resolutions keep them.

According to experts, both the type of resolution and the approach to keeping it can have a significant impact on success.

More recent, some people have also rejected a list of resolutions in favour of "in and out" lists – ins being qualities people are hoping to increase in their lives, while outs are qualities they wish to reject.

North Shore News polled 1,217 North Shore News readers and asked the question: Did you make New Year's resolutions?

The poll ran from 1/5/2023 to 1/17/2023. Of the 1,217 votes, we can determine that 463 are from within the community. The full results are as follows:

Yes 16.85 % local, 17.01 % total    
No 83.15 % local, 82.99 % total    
  Local   Total

Results are based on an online study of adult North Shore News readers that are located in North Shore. The margin of error  which measures sample variability  is +/- 2.8%, 19 times out of 20.

North Shore News uses a variety of techniques to capture data, detect and prevent fraudulent votes, detect and prevent robots, and filter out non-local and duplicate votes.

jseyd@nsnews.com
twitter.com/JaneSeyd