New survey reveals half of Mancs have already given up their new year’s resolutions

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant Reading a book

We’re into our third week of 2026 now, and according to a new survey, half of Mancs have already ditched their new year’s resolutions.

New year’s resolutions are always made with the best intentions, and it’s not like we intentionally set ourselves up to fail with them, but more often than not, that tends to be the case – and now a new survey of 1,000 Brits carried out over the past few weeks has found that 35% of us have already admitted to giving them up.

That percentage rises to a whopping 50% when narrowed down to the people of Greater Manchester.

Belfast, Bristol, Cardiff, and Glasgow are the other four major cities joining Manchester in the top five list of people in each area that have stopped their 2026 challenge early.

Half of Mancs have apparently already given up their new year’s resolutions / Credit: PICRYL | Pexels

On the other end of the spectrum, it’s the cities of Southampton, Newcastle, and Edinburgh that are staying strong, with just 25%, 26% and 26% giving their new year’s resolutions up respectively, and some of the other northern cities on the list including Liverpool and Leeds.

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According to new research from greetings card marketplace, Thortful, more than half of Brits (53%) expect to give up within the first three months of the year – with the hustle of busy schedules, work commitments, families, and social activities being given as reasons why.

When it comes to the reasons people provided for why they’ve given their resolutions up this year, lack of discipline tops the list at 43%, followed by just being too busy to consider them at 21%, and different mental or physical barriers in third place, as well as a change of personal circumstances and a lack of money also cited.

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The majority of people cited a lack of discipline as being the reason they gave up / Credit: Andrea Piacquadio (via Pexels)

Looking forward to next year, it seems many of us want to reframe how we set our new year’s resolutions in the future.

According to the research, 32% of respondents want to ‘improve their existing qualities rather than set an unrealistic challenge’ next time around, and 16% ‘feel like there’s social pressure to change in the new year’, when in reality, they ‘don’t have to’.

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Factoring in financial situations and setting realistic standards have been suggested as the key to new year’s resolution longevity.

Featured Image – Efrem Efre (via Pexels)

Stockport County supporters are calling for the ‘perfect’, ‘common-sense’ transfer this window

Danny Jones Danny Jones Stockport County resigning Isaac Tanto Olaofe on loan until end of the season

A significant section of Stockport County supporters are calling for the club to do what many are dubbing not just the ‘perfect’ reinforcement this January transfer window, but following recent developments, what some have called almost ‘common sense’ at this point.

The player in question is Isaac Tanitoluwaloba Aduraoluwatimileyin Olaofe, also known as and more affectionately referred to as ‘Tanto’.

It’s fair to say he was a firm fan favourite during his time at Edgeley Park, and most in the ground would have him back in a heartbeat.

With that in mind, given that County are not only looking to consolidate their promotion/playoff prospects wherever possible, but Tanto’s current club seem to have just nudged him another step down the pecking order, there is a suggestion that various moving parts could see him return to Stockport.

As per local football writer and Stockport correspondent, Sam Byrne (who also helps out on co-comms for County TV), there’s been plenty of interest in the Lewisham-born attacker, as it appears he may be available before the end of the month.

That is on loan, at least; although Charlton Athletic FC only recently signed him this past summer, Tanto had to wait until late two-thirds of the way through October to make his debut, even despite the capital-based club going after him quite persistently with a near record fee.

Fans were gutted to see him go, losing both his goal involvements and a big character around the ground – not to mention a great chant, too.

More crucially, perhaps due to the step from League One to the Championship, or simply not having quite fully settled into the rhythm of his new surroundings, he’s struggled to make much of an impact in his 25 appearances across all competitions.

Registering just a couple of assists and a single goal since arriving at The Valley stadium, compared to his best-ever season at County, when he scored 21 times throughout 2023/24, it’s fair to say that while he’s still put in some impressive peformances that, he hasn’t quite had the same return.

Still sitting as the Hatters’ second-highest scorer (37) since their return to the football league back in 2022, he still managed a dozen finishes and four assists last term, as those kinds of numbers could prove to be a key differential in the Greater Manchester side’s season.

IF they were to “bring him home” as many fans have already urged the board to do so, that is.

One user wrote, “Can you please tweet the following: Stockport County have agreed a deal with Charlton Athletic to sign Tanto Olaofe on a permanent deal until 2029. TIA [thanks in advance]”; another simply added: “Room for tanto back at Stockport county please.”

While Charlton manager Nathan Jones insisted that Tanto “isn’t going anywhere”, and the 26-year-old may obviously prefer plying his trade back in London, now The Addicks have completed the signing of another forward in seasoned EFL striker Lyndon Dykes, the 26-year-old could be competing for minutes.

Between the Scottish international, last year’s talisman, Matty Godden, Charlie Kelman and youngster Miles Leaburn, there are plenty of offensive options to choose from.

There has also been plenty of pull for the recruitment team to bring back former loan star, Louie Barry – who hasn’t enjoyed the same kind of form since leaving Dave Challinor’s squad either – with the Aston Villa youth product having also sparked some conversation after a recent profile picture change…

Once again, lots of this remains merely speculation for now, but it can’t be denied that there is a clamour from a sizeable amount of fans to bring either one or both of them back if possible.

Elsewhere, Stockport County are also very interested in a striker from the Scottish Premiership, with their second bid having been reportedly rejected last week.

Whether or not this affects any potential plans to bring back Isaac Tanto Olaofe as a loanee until the end of the campaign, as rumours continue to hint at, only time will tell. One thing we will say is that a lot can happen in a few days during the transfer window, let alone a few weeks.

Stockport County sign ex-Bolton Wanderers player and ‘important cog’ on a free transfer
Where else would you like to see Stockport strengthen their squad before January deadline day?

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Featured Images — MG Petch (via WikiCommons)/Charlton Athletic (screenshot via YouTube)

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