The year when it finally comes out? Half of Czechs enter 2026 with a plan to change their lives
The year 2026 begins unusually optimistically in the Czech Republic. Eight out of ten people believe in better times - significantly more than in previous years. Importantly, this time it is not just a passive belief that "things will be better". More than half of the population has decided to take the future into their own hands and set personal goals for the new year. Most often in the areas of health, psychological well-being and relationships, with finances, career and education also resonating strongly with younger generations.
52 per cent of Czechs plan to make New Year's resolutions this year. This is a slight increase from last year, when 45 per cent of people set goals. Although complete fulfillment remains the exception rather than the rule, most resolutions don't end in January. Data from last year shows that just under a third of people completely abandoned their goals, while two-thirds met them at least partially. Seventeen percent of those surveyed succeeded completely.
Generation Z fared best, with eight out of ten young people having at least partially fulfilled their resolutions. "Younger generations are more aware that nothing will just fall into their lap," comments Lucie Režná from the NMS agency. While older generations tend to rely on things to settle down over time, the young take change as an active project.
2026 in the sign of body, head and money
Resolutions are the domain of the younger years. Seven out of ten people under the age of 36 set personal goals for the new year, while for older people, on average, only one in two do so. But the differences are not only in the degree, but also in the content.
Three main areas emerge consistently across generations: physical fitness and health, personal relationships and mental health. Regardless of age, people want to live healthier, calmer and more functional relationships in the new year. The differences come when talking about the future in a broader sense.
Half of Generation Z and millennials want to focus on finances in 2026. Among the over-45s, it's only about a third, and among the over-61s, it's a quarter. For the young, money is not just a means to a more comfortable life, but also a symbol of control over one's direction - the ability to quit a toxic job, move, travel, study or afford a break.
Moreover, Generation Z has a strong focus on personal development, career and education. This interest declines as they get older. "The focus on career and professional growth breaks around age 45. This is the age when many people reach a certain professional peak and start to put more emphasis on stability and other priorities in life," explains Lucie Režná. Young people have a much greater desire to learn, often just for themselves, without a direct link to promotion or work."
The difference between the sexes is also interesting. Men in particular are planning to kick the habit - and up to twice as often as women. Whether it's smoking, alcohol, overeating or procrastination, it's men who are more likely to name the need to "do something substantial with myself."
The New Year is not a magic button
Yet half the population makes no New Year's resolutions. Not because they are resigned to change, but because they reject its symbolic timing. A third of respondents say they prefer to set goals continuously throughout the year. Others do not consider resolutions important, and some openly admit that they do not believe in them - they fear that they would not keep them anyway.
For many people, the new year is not a magical reboot, but rather a reminder of past failures. Change, then, does not feel like an opportunity, but like pressure.
And motivation is the key to success. So what helps the most in fulfilling resolutions? It's definitely the support of those around you. Family and friends keep people afloat the most, but it's also important to monitor your own progress, be able to set realistic goals and establish a routine. Small rewards for milestones achieved work more as a nice bonus than a main driver.
So the data shows that resolutions don't have to be an empty phrase spoken at midnight. For many people, they represent a concrete plan to take the future into their own hands. Whether it's a healthier body, a calmer mind, stronger relationships or more stable finances, 2026 is off to a surprisingly ambitious start for Czechs.
