Germans mainly set themselves finance challenges instead of sport or nutrition
A representative study commissioned by Galaxus analysed how often women and men in different countries make resolutions. In Germany, less than a third of the population set themselves challenges, compared to almost two thirds in Switzerland. Most challengers in Europe have dietary resolutions, but in Germany it is finance that reigns supreme.
It's almost time again for New Year's resolutions - also known as challenges. Going to bed earlier, eating healthier or doing more sport are among the classics. Galaxus wanted to find out how many people set themselves such challenges and which challenge topics are particularly popular. And how differently people challenge themselves from country to country?
As part of a representative study by the Link Institute (YouGov), 2,521 people from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and France provided information.
Challenges? From of course & certainly to no, thanks
More than two thirds of all respondents have experience with resolutions: Just under half (47%) currently or regularly challenge themselves. 29 per cent have set themselves challenges in the past. Eight per cent have never made resolutions but plan to change this. And 16 per cent of survey participants have no desire to do so at all.
In the country ranking, Switzerland leads ahead of Italy and Austria: 59.1 per cent of Swiss people currently or regularly set themselves challenges. Germany, on the other hand, is less keen and brings up the rear with 32.5 per cent.
In France and Italy, women and men are in a similar position. In the DACH region, men are slightly ahead: they set resolutions slightly more often than the female respondents.
Young people are (almost always) the most challenge-hungry
The younger, the more popular resolutions are. Among 15- to 29-year-olds in Switzerland, 71 per cent challenge themselves. That is the highest figure in Europe. Only six per cent in this age category say that they don't want to challenge themselves.
The exception is Bella Italia: Italians aged between 30 and 44 are more motivated than average to make new resolutions. The southerners are even ahead of Switzerland in this category.
In Germany and Austria, the age group of 45 to 59-year-olds is the most challenge-averse. In the other countries surveyed, it is the 60- to 79-year-olds.
Challenges go through the stomach
Across all countries, nutrition is the biggest "resolution driver" in 2023, with over 50 per cent of respondents currently taking on a challenge in this area, followed by the topics of finance (47%), household (41%) and sport (37%).
Amazing in the digital age: digital detox and the like are not a priority for respondents and are at the bottom of the ranking across all countries at just under 18 per cent. In all the countries surveyed, residents are the least likely to take on digital challenges.
Swiss people take on an above-average number of sports challenges (45%). However, nutrition is also at the top of the ranking for the Swiss at 50 per cent. Finance follows in third place, but at 40 per cent, Switzerland has the lowest score of all the countries surveyed.
Neighbouring countries, such as Austria, give the topic a higher weighting. There, finances (56%) and nutrition (53%) are the most important issues for challengers. Apart from sport, the other topics are of secondary importance. And even among challenge-averse Germans, finance is at the top of the list.
Most resolutions in Italy relate to the household. Many Italians are also actively combating bad habits (51%). Significantly more often than in the other countries.
Do you have New Year's resolutions? Or are challenges not your thing? Let us know in the comments column.
The Swiss market research institute Link (A Yougov Company) conducts representative surveys for Galaxus. People from the DACH region as well as Italy and France took part in the survey.
