New Year’s Resolutions

-For 2013-

Identical questions as a 2012 Resolutions survey. Both survey pools were identical.

◦ U.S. respondents◦ Aged 18 to 60◦ Nationally representative on demographics

Each sample size of 1,000 respondents. Statistically significant, with sampling error at the 95%

confidence rate.

The FranklinPlanner.com team recently conducted a survey to identify New Year’s Resolutions for 2013, and compared them to 2012 findings.

Source: FCOP 2012 and 2013 Surveys

Question: How satisfied are you with your life? Please use a 10-point scale where “1” means not at all satisfied and “10” means extremely satisfied.

Life satisfaction has increased modestly in the last year.

Source: FCOP 2012 and 2013 Surveys

2012: 7.0

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

2013: 7.3

Question: Which of the items on the list below are included in this resolution?

The top four resolutions remain the same, but career and education are more important.

Source: FCOP 2012 and 2013 Surveys

TOP 10 NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS FOR 2012 TOP 10 NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS FOR 20131. Become more physically fit 1. Become more physically fit2. Improve financial condition 2. Improve financial condition

3. Improve health 3. Improve health4. Lose weight 4. Lose weight5. Read more 5. Read more

Become more educated-- New6. Change overall attitude: be more positive 6. Improve work habits/career situation -- New

7. Improve family relationships 7. Travel more8. Travel more 8. Improve family relationships9. Do more volunteer work 9. Do more volunteer work

10. Improve other relationships (friends, co-workers, neighbors)

10. Change overall attitude: be more positive

TOP 10 NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS FOR 2012

1. Become more physically fit

2. Improve financial condition

3. Improve health4. Lose weight

5. Read more

6. Change overall attitude: be more positive

7. Improve family relationships

8. Travel more9. Do more volunteer work

10. Improve other relationships (friends, co-workers, neighbors)

One 2012 resolution fell off the 2013 list– Improve relationships with others.

Source: FCOP 2012 and 2013 Surveys

2013 Priorities shifted slightly within gender groups.

Source: FCOP 2012 and 2013 Surveys

Response Percent RankResponse Percent

RankResponse Percent

Rank

Improve physical fitness (e.g. exercise more) 66% 1 69% 1 64% 1Improve financial situation (e.g. save money, 57% 2 58% 3 55% 2Improve health (e.g. better diet, less junk food, 52% 3 59% 2 46% 3

Lose weight 46% 4 51% 4 42% 4Become more educated (take courses) 29% 5 31% 6 28% 8

Read more 29% 5 33% 5 26% 9Improve work habits/career situation 29% 6 28% 7 30% 5

Travel more 28% 7 28% 7 29% 6Improve relationships with family members 28% 8 28% 7 29% 7

Do (more) volunteer work 23% 9 28% 8 19% 13Change overall attitude: be more “positive” 23% 10 26% 9 20% 12Improve relationships with others (friends, 22% 11 23% 10 22% 11

Change career or job 22% 12 20% 11 23% 10

Women MenTotalResolution

2013 Priorities shifted slightly within age.Younger adults (ages 21-39) had “career change,” “continue education” and “improve work habits as top goals.”

Source: FCOP 2012 and 2013 Surveys

Response Percent

RankResponse Percent

RankResponse Percent

RankResponse Percent

Rank

Improve physical fitness (e.g. exercise more) 62% 1 67% 1 67% 1 66% 1Improve financial situation (e.g. save money, eliminate debt) 57% 2 56% 2 63% 2 53% 2Improve health (e.g. better diet, less junk food, more 52% 3 53% 3 54% 3 52% 3Lose weight 46% 4 40% 5 48% 4 48% 4Read more 29% 5 39% 6 25% 8 27% 6Become more educated (take courses) 29% 5 46% 4 29% 7 21% 10Improve work habits/career situation 29% 6 32% 9 33% 5 25% 8Travel more 28% 7 33% 8 23% 10 30% 5Improve relationships with family members (children, 28% 8 30% 11 30% 6 27% 7Do (more) volunteer work 23% 9 27% 13 20% 13 23% 9Change overall attitude: be more “positive” 23% 10 31% 10 22% 11 19% 12Improve relationships with others (friends, neighbors, co- 22% 11 33% 7 21% 12 17% 14Change career or job 22% 12 25% 14 23% 9 19% 11

18 - 29 30 - 44 45 - 60TotalResolution

Weight loss and increased travel were cited most commonly as the resolution abandoned first…

Source: FCOP 2012 and 2013 Surveys

ResolutionPercent Who

Abandoned This Resolution First

Lose weight 31%Travel more 26%

Become more physically fit 20%Read more 16%

Do more volunteer work 14%Improve financial condition 12%

Improve health 10%Change overall attitude: be more positive 8%

Improve family relationships 6%Improve other relationships 6%

Source: FCOP 2012 and 2013 Surveys

Resolution

Percent Who Pursued This Resolution

LongestLose weight 41%Become more physically fit 29%Improve financial condition 16%Read more 15%Improve health 15%Improve family relationships 14%Do more volunteer work 9%Change overall attitude: be more positive 8%Travel more 8%Improve other relationships 7%

… but were also shared as the resolutions pursued the longest.

Sharing goals with friends appears to be the most common method for staying on track.

Source: FCOP 2012 and 2013 Surveys

MethodsResponse Percent

Sharing your goal with friends and asking for their support 41%Tracking your goal in your planner 25%

Keeping a journal 18%Tracking your goal with an online tracker 12%Sharing your goal on the Internet on social media sites and 7%

Meeting with an in-person support group 6%Other (please specify) 27%