Why So Many Brits Are Giving Up on Their New Year’s Resolutions So Early in 2026
We’re now well into the second month of the year, and for many of us, 2026 may have begun with high motivation and the best of intentions, but if we’re not careful, that early momentum can fade as our pre-January habits creep back in.
One in four UK adults who set New Year’s resolutions, amounting to around eight million Brits, are already struggling to keep them, according to a survey of 2,000 participants by leading healthy recipe box service, Green Chef.
The survey also found, of those who did set a resolution, the vast majority (67%) said that it was related to eating better, fitness or weight loss, while 39% of Brits said they still plan to eat better than they currently do.
When it comes to keeping New Year’s resolutions, Manchester takes the crown as the ‘resolution quit capital,’ with 17% of residents saying they had already given up. By comparison, Edinburgh ranked second, with only 4% of residents reporting the same.
Registered nutritionist and recipe development manager at Green Chef, Lily Keeling comments on the challenges of sticking to New Year’s resolutions.
“Sticking to resolutions can be tricky,” she says. “Initial momentum can trick us into thinking a change is permanent, and when a setback undoubtedly hits, it can trigger that all-too-human feeling of failure or not feeling good enough.”
“Reflecting on your progress is more helpful than fixating on slip-ups. Weeks of better choices, whether around meals or routines, far outweigh one moment, and once you value that, it becomes easier to keep going.”
To help make sense of those early setbacks, Lily shares some of her top tips for staying on track with your everyday eating, even when things don’t go as expected.
1. See an off-day as a moment to learn
Rather than beating yourself up over a day that hasn’t gone to plan, identify the trigger, whether it was after a late night at work, not having much in the fridge or simply being caught off guard, and consider how you might adjust next time.
Lily says, “If you’ve messed up or accidentally gone off plan, acknowledge it and try to see your next meal as a fresh start rather than a punishment. One choice doesn’t undo all the good you’ve done.”
2. Allow room for flexibility
Instead of feeling you’ve failed when cravings strike, accept that an occasional indulgence doesn’t spoil the bigger picture.
“Sticking to a rigid plan can be frustrating. If you factor in the occasional treat as part of your goals, it won’t throw you off track as easy. Planning for these moments makes it easier to stay consistent,” she notes.
3. Embrace the inevitable slip
Rather than letting a setback spiral, accept that missteps are part of the process and have a simple way to recover without guilt.
Lily advises, “Knowing that slip ups are completely normal makes it easier to get back on track. How you respond matters far more than the stumble itself. Consider what led to it, remind yourself why you started and focus on making the next choice instead.”
4. Bring curiosity to your plate
Instead of falling back on the same meals, let a setback be a prompt to try new flavours or recipes that excite you.
“Eating the same way all the time can get dull,” she says. “Trying a new ingredient or recipe can make healthy eating feel fresh and enjoyable, and keeps motivation up.”
5. Look at the bigger picture
Rather than obsessing over each mistake, take a moment to notice all the choices you’ve done well with over the past few weeks.
“It’s easy to get caught up in one day or one choice, but recognising the progress you’ve already made, however small it may be, can help shift your mindset from aiming for perfection to seeing the bigger picture,” she explains.
For nutritionist-approved recipe inspiration, visit Green Chef.
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