BRITAIN’S JANUARY RESET

Millions plan to cut back on alcohol, improve health and tighten finances – even if they don’t call it a “resolution”

Every January, the UK becomes a nation of habit-shifters. While polls show not everyone makes a formal New Year’s Resolution, behaviour tells a different story: January has become a cultural reset point for health, money and lifestyle change. One of the clearest examples is alcohol – and it’s happening at scale.

A New Year’s resolution is essentially a commitment to change or improve oneself at the start of the year – marking a boundary in time as an opportunity to reset behaviour. The practice goes back centuries, even to Ancient Rome, where citizens made January promises to Janus, the god of transitions, symbolising reflection on the year past and intent for the year ahead.

In modern Britain, the spirit remains — but the language has changed.

THE JANUARY RESET IN ACTION

One clear indicator comes from Dry January. In 2025, millions of people in the UK intended to take a break from alcohol, and over 200,000 downloaded the official Try Dry® app and took part in the Dry January Challenge, run by Britain’s leading alcohol charity, Alcohol Change UK.

It shows that even if people don’t label it a “resolution”, January is still a major moment for health-driven behaviour change.

WHAT BRITS ARE LOOKING TO CHANGE

Across recent YouGov data, three goal themes dominate:

Health & Wellbeing – Exercise more, eat better, improve sleep, cut back on alcohol

Money – Save more, reduce spending, get financially organised

Relationships & Lifestyle – Spend more time with family, reduce screen time, learn new skills

These pillars appear year after year. Brits aren’t short of motivation, they’re trying to feel better, live better and do better.

WHO’S MAKING RESOLUTIONS?

YouGov polling repeatedly shows under-35s are far more likely to start the year with behaviour change intentions than older groups. Younger adults are engaging in Dry January, financial resets and health habits at significantly higher rates – suggesting that the “January reset” is now a youth-led cultural behaviour, not just a nostalgic tradition.

GOOD INTENTIONS, SHORT SHELF LIFE

Despite strong motivation, long-term follow-through remains the friction point. YouGov data suggests only around one-third of people report keeping all their goals over a year, although many keep some. The pattern is familiar: motivation peaks on January 1 – but without structure, habits drift by February.

QUICK STATS — UK AT A GLANCE

• Millions planned to reduce or stop alcohol in January 2025
• 200,000+ downloaded the Try Dry® app to take the official Dry January Challenge
• Health, money and relationships dominate UK-based New Year behaviour change
• Younger adults lead participation — older groups engage less
• Only ~1 in 3 report keeping all goals across the year (YouGov)

ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD

Globally, the appetite for change is even higher. An Ipsos survey across 36 countries found around three-quarters of adults set personal goals for the year ahead. France reports strong follow-through, with one Ipsos poll showing 59% say they successfully kept their resolutions, while US patterns mirror the UK – high intent, lower long-term success without support.

TUNE INTO THE FEEL GOOD HOUR
Nigel Jones will be live on Radio Ashford’s Feel Good Hour this Friday, 2nd January, for a special New Year edition titled Beyond Resolutions: Designing Your 2026 Blueprint for Goals & Growth. Alongside host Samantha Griffin, Nigel will explore why resolutions often fade, how Dry January can act as a healthy reset, and what it really takes to build habits that last — with simple, practical tools listeners can use immediately. Tune in on Radio Ashford 107.1 FM, 12:30–1:30pm, or ask your smart speaker to “Play Radio Ashford.”

TURN INTENTION INTO ACTION

Don’t just set resolutions – build a blueprint that lasts. Whether you’re cutting back on alcohol, improving your health, taking control of your finances or strengthening relationships, sustained change comes from structure, habits and support – not willpower alone. Turn intention into action in 2026, through coaching, hypnotherapy and practical tools to help make change stick.

WORK WITH NIGEL

Nigel Jones is an NLP practitioner, hypnotherapist and life coach, and the author of the best-selling habit change book Walking Back to Happiness – The Secret to Alcohol-Free Living & Well-Being. He helps clients create lasting behaviour change through structured coaching, hypnosis and practical habit-building.

Coaching, NLP & Hypnotherapy: to change habit, set achievable goals and reduce anxiety – in person or online. Reply to this email or visit 9kmby9am.com. https://www.9kmby9am.com/coaching/

Book: Walking Back to Happiness — The Secret to Alcohol-Free Living & Well-Being. Practical tools to change your story. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DLPH36R3/

Try First Class Coach — Nigel’s AI coach — to keep you accountable between sessions. https://www.9kmby9am.com/about-nigel/ai-coach/

LINKS

DRY JANUARY

Buy The Book – https://alcoholchange.org.uk/get-involved/donate/give-while-you-shop

Official Dry January challenge website – https://alcoholchange.org.uk/help-and-support/managing-your-drinking/dry-january

Book Website – www.9kmby9am.com/books

COACHING

Website – https://www.9kmby9am.com/

Radio Show -https://www.9kmby9am.com/about-nigel/radio-ashford-the-feel-good-hour/

Podcasts – https://www.9kmby9am.com/about-nigel/podcasts/

Testimonials – https://www.9kmby9am.com/coaching/coaching-testimonials/

Coaching – https://www.9kmby9am.com/coaching/

My Book – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DLPH36R3/

Professional Bodies https://general-hypnotherapy-register.com/nigel-jones/ & https://anlp.org/members/nigel-jones

Newsletter – https://www.9kmby9am.com/latest-news/newsletter/

Sober Coaching – https://www.9kmby9am.com/coaching/getsobercurious

TRY MY AI LIFE COACH

AI Life Coach

BOOK

Author Page – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nigel-Jones/e/B0B7RP6LH6/

Paperback https://amzn.eu/d/573olDm

Hardcover https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/191514731X/

Kindle / eBook https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B7QVJP2M/

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SOBER CODE

Proud supporter of the new Sober Code ensuring alcohol-free coaches protect those whose alcohol dependence makes them vulnerable. www.sobercode.co.uk

ALCOHOL CHANGE UK

Proud to be a Community Champion  www.alcoholchange.org.uk

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