Overview
- A review of 20 studies from the University of South Australia finds most new behaviors become automatic after two to five months, with diet changes sometimes taking up to eleven months.
- Long‑term success is rare—about 8% in a University of Scranton study—and early drop‑offs are common as the brain favors familiar routines and immediate rewards.
- Statista reports Germany’s top 2026 goals as saving more (52%), healthier eating (50%), more exercise (48%) and weight loss (37%), while a separate Forsa survey for DAK highlights more time with family and less stress.
- Experts recommend specific, time‑linked plans, quick starts, small achievable steps, social accountability, visible cues and timely, goal‑consistent rewards, alongside self‑compassion for setbacks.
- The fitness sector reflects the pattern: studios expect roughly a third of new memberships in the first six weeks, yet industry data show about 25% of contracts were canceled in 2023.