by Jessica Blough

Culture Editor

It’s that time of year again when we begin to forget the promises we made to ourselves at the beginning of 2015. As January comes to a close, we lose the motivation to keep our New Year’s resolutions and settle back into the habits we tried so hard to break, claiming that it’s hopeless to try and that no one ever keeps their resolutions anyway. However, this year I encourage you to take advantage of the opportunity to have a fresh start and commit to making this year better than the last by sticking to your resolutions.

A New Year’s resolution is a promise that you make to yourself at the beginning of the year that will somehow improve your life. The key word in this definition is improve. New Year’s resolutions give people an opportunity to reflect on their past year and see what they could have done better. Nearly all resolutions are made in an attempt to improve one’s health and happiness in the coming year, including losing weight, the most popular resolution. How could trying to make your life better harm you in the long run? Even if you do eventually break your resolutions, as the majority of people do, the few weeks or months that you stuck to them can greatly benefit your health and happiness. It only takes about two months to develop a habit that can last through the rest of the year.

Additionally, the New Year is the perfect time to try to attain a new goal because it’s a universal chance for a fresh start. The New Year marks the end of the holiday season and the beginning of a new semester. The days of binge eating William’s Sonoma Peppermint Bark are over, and your first semester grades are behind you. It’s the perfect time to clean up your diet and stop procrastinating on your homework. Nearly everyone makes some kind of resolution, so you have the support of other people who are trying to achieve their goals alongside you. You don’t have to worry about going to the gym alone when there’s a good chance that one of your friends wants to start working out more too.

This year, fight through the desire to give up on your resolutions and commit to kicking your bad habits. I encourage you to stick to your plans and take on the chance to improve your lifestyle in 2015. May it be your best year yet.