February 12th, 2024, Janice Fernandes
In 2024, health and finance stand out as the top New Year's resolutions for Americans, according to a recent YouGov survey. So, what kind of health routines do Americans regularly follow and what are they planning to start doing in the coming months?
Current self-care routines
Currently, nearly half of respondents (47%) highlight their commitment to maintaining a healthy diet, making it the most prevalent self-care habit across all age groups.
Following closely, 46% of participants actively prioritize preventive healthcare by scheduling regular checkups. Understandably, the older demographic, aged 55 and above, exhibits a remarkable 63% commitment to health checkups, while the 18-34 age group lags at 27%.
Other widespread self-care practices include adhering to a consistent sleep schedule (39%) and engaging in regular exercise (37%), with the 55+ age group displaying higher commitment to sleep schedules (45%).
In less common self-care activities, 28% of respondents follow a regular skincare regimen, and 16% practice meditation. Here, age differences come to the forefront, with the 18-34 age group showing more enthusiasm for incorporating meditation (23%) and skincare routines (31%).
Future self-care aspirations
Looking ahead, the survey explores the self-care activities that respondents aren’t following yet but plan to initiate in the next two months. Unsurprisingly, healthy eating maintains its popularity, with 39% expressing a desire to adopt this practice. Noteworthy is the slightly higher inclination among the 35-54 age group (43%) to embark on healthier dietary habits.
Regular exercise remains a focal point, with 36% of respondents planning to initiate workout routines. Following closely, 33% express intentions to start maintaining a consistent sleep schedule in the next two months.
In contrast, skincare routines and meditation emerge as less popular aspirations, with 20% planning to start a regular skincare routine and only 16% expressing intentions to practice meditation in the upcoming months.
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Methodology: YouGov Surveys: Serviced provides quick survey results from nationally representative or targeted audiences in multiple markets. This study was conducted online on January 24-25, 2024, with a nationally representative sample of 1,110 adults in the United States (aged 18+ years), using a questionnaire designed by YouGov. Data figures have been weighted by age, gender, education, social grade and region to be representative of all adults. Learn more about YouGov Surveys: Serviced.
Image: Getty Images