Stats Show Iowa Gives Up On New Year’s Resolutions Pretty Fast

You just go ahead and tell yourself you'll get all the things done in 2026.

Some of us don't even bother trying to make steadfast New Year's resolutions anymore. We may think 'yeah I could stand to eat better' and 'yeah I should treat myself less for the sake of my bank account'. But how many of us actually stick to those plans past the first week of the new year?

Studies show Iowa in particular isn't doing too well on that front.

A study by PlayStar Casino surveyed 2,000 people in about 30 states. According to stats from January 2024, Iowa ranks 3rd in states likely to forget New Year's resolutions.

States most likely to scrap resolutions are Delaware (39%), Mississippi (32%) and Iowa (31%). Even though those numbers are about a couple of years old, I can't imagine they have improved much since then.

The top New Year's resolutions this year across the board are pretty basic according to Statista: exercise, save money, and eat healthier. So by this time next year we should all be ripped with the funds for a month in the Maldives, right?

Here's the good news: Iowans definitely aren't alone in giving up on New Year's resolutions. In fact, so many people throw in the towel that the 2nd Friday in January (In 2026, that's January 9th) is known as 'Quitter's Day'.

And as far as states that are really focused on career-involved New Year's resolutions? Iowa doesn't rank there either. Neither does any other Midwestern state.