By Movieguide® Staff
A new poll found that Americans focused on faith and family as they drew up their New Year’s resolutions for 2026.
“The YouGov poll found that roughly one-third (31 percent) of U.S. adults say they will make a New Year’s resolution, with those under 45 about two times more likely than older Americans to say they will set a goal (43 percent vs. 21 percent),” Crosswalk reported.
While typical answers like exercising, eating healthier and saving money topped the list of popular resolutions, two goals tied for eighth place — “praying more” and “spending more time with family” were chosen by 15% of Americans.
Top New Year’s resolutions: Americans want more family time, prayer in 2026 https://t.co/JgZPZameHl
Related: How Christians Should Think About New Year’s Resolutions
— The Christian Post (@ChristianPost) December 31, 2025
The YouGov survey also found that younger adults were more likely to choose faith-related resolutions; 15% of adults 18-29 said they wanted to pray more, while 13% of those ages 45-64 said the same thing.
Similarly, 11% of 18-29 year-olds said they “want to focus more on spiritual matters,” versus 7% of adults ages 45-64.
These resolutions match the data collected over the past few years that shows a major uptick in Gen Zers committing to faith.
“Nearly two-thirds of young people identify as spiritual or religious and many say they believe in a higher power,” Dr. Marc Siegel wrote in an op-ed for Fox News. “In fact, this generation’s increasing involvement in church and prayer is helping to reverse the societal trend away from religion and toward progressive secularism.”
He continued, “We need to emphasize community, family and faith when our children are still young, to help them choose a path of spiritual growth and an acceptance of a reality far greater than a six-inch cell phone.”
While many worry about keeping up with the goals they set for themselves at the beginning of the year, Alexis McCrossen, a history professor at Southern Methodist University whose research focuses on New Year’s observances, reminded us that resolutions don’t just have to be part of a new year.
“Each day, one could [make a resolution to change],” she told NPR. “It’s just that the 1st provides us with a lot of energy and community, all of us together trying to start out on a new foot.”
As we enter 2026, people around the country are putting their focus on faith and family, hoping to strengthen those relationships in the new year.
Read Next: Forget New Year’s Resolutions — What About New Year’s Prayers?
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