Whether it's lower gas prices, the political shift in Congress or just a happier spirit in general, Americans are entering 2015 with renewed optimism and with a fair number saying they likely would stick to resolutions they made for the new year, a
Rasmussen Reports poll has found.
The Dec. 30 telephone survey of 1,000 adults found that 38 percent would make such resolutions, while a full 50 percent said they would not, with those making 2015 pledges trending toward younger adults, Rasmussen said.
The increase was significant over three years ago, when Rasmussen noted that just 30 percent said they were making resolutions for the new year.
Half said they were "somewhat likely" to stick to their new goals, with 20 percent registering "very likely" that they would stay on track, Rasmussen said.
Other questions showed Americans stoking the home fires this New Year's Eve, with 72 percent saying they planned to celebrate quietly rather than go out. Just 48 percent said they planned to drink for the festivities, with 13 percent predicting it was "likely" they'd wake up with a hangover.
Wherever they partied and however much, a little more than half of Americans said they planned to ring in 2015 with a kiss, the survey found.
The first day of the year isn't seen as an important holiday by most Americans, Rasmussen said, noting that only 7 percent said it was one of the nation's most important holidays and 31 percent thought it the least important — findings that have remained consistent since 2008, the pollster said.
For New Year's Day plans, 52 percent said they would spend it with family or friends, while 40 percent planned on catching some of the many football games televised Thursday.
A similar poll from the
Associated Press-Times Square Alliance found that optimism was on the minds of many, with close to half predicting that 2015 would be a better year than 2014 and only one in 10 thinking it would be worse.
On the film front, Americans named "Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens" as their most anticipated movie of 2015. They'll have to wait a while to see it, however, as it's not expected to hit theaters until December, the
New York Daily News noted.
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