With the new year here, people are already trying to live up to their New Year’s resolutions. The common phrase thrown around is: “New year, new me.” But what is the real purpose of a resolution? Is it to motivate yourself to do things you never thought you could do before and change your life for the better? Or, in reality, is it something you’ll start for the first month or so and then let go of it, just so you can say you tried?

I do not believe in New Year’s resolutions because I’ve never seen them last. Also, I think that if you want to change something in your life, you don’t have to wait until a new year; change it now. I’m not trying to be one of those in-your-face motivational speakers, but it’s true. There is no reason you shouldn’t be able to alter something that makes you unhappy. Resolutions are hyped up because most people want an excuse to make new goals for their life. Unfortunately, the majority of the people that create these resolutions do it for a couple weeks, and then they seem to fade away.

Resolutions are almost like diets. If they’re not something that you can live with for the rest of your life, then they’re not for you. They can be made at any time as well. I do, however, understand why resolutions are made. For some reason, when the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, we feel as though we are invincible. We feel that we can change, and that we can make a difference. The new year makes you feel strong and refreshed. Thus, resolutions are born.

In my 18 years, the most common resolutions I’ve heard are as follows: “I’m going to lose weight,” “I’m going to live with no regrets,” “I’m going to do better in school,” “I’m going to go the gym at least three times a week,” and “I’m going to be nicer to my mom.” There is nothing wrong with these goals, and I think that if you really believe that you can achieve them, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t try; you should stop at no means to get there. After all, your mom is pretty great to you; it wouldn’t hurt to do the dishes every now and then.

There is nothing wrong with making effective goals for yourself. But keep in mind that you are the one that has to make it last and benefit your life and the people around you. If you are going to propose a resolution, you must commit to it and stick to it as if you made this goal at any other time in your life. Don’t forget, there is always time for change. You just have to be able to stand up and do it.