"New year, new me": the cliche saying you hear every time a year passes and a new one begins.

Sure, it’s cliche, but it should not get looked down at.

A new year is a perfect time to start new things and try to better yourself. Making goals for yourself is always better than automatically accepting failure.

If you want to get in shape, make a new year's resolution to go to the gym more often and eat healthier foods.

If you want to do better in school, make a new year’s resolution to manage your time and study harder than you have before.

If you want to improve your mental health, make a new year’s resolution to surround yourself with people who are good for you and cut ties with people who are not.

New Year's resolutions give people initiative to better themselves, and they should be more encouraged rather than looked down upon.

The new year, 2018, begins on a Monday: the beginning of a week and the beginning of a year. Push yourself to make the changes you want to make. There’s no excuse you can’t start now.

Everyone is wanting to grow and improve, and there’s no better place to start than the very beginning of the year. Consistency can be hard for some, but there are ways to get past the constant excuses.

For example, take a calendar or a planner. Writing down what you do/plan to do is not only a reminder and memory tactic for those who struggle with consistency, but it will make you more motivated to check off your daily accomplishments.

If a calendar or a planner isn’t for you, there are other ways to stay on the path you want to set for yourself, whether it’s giving yourself rewards on days you accomplish what you want or you could go through your growth process with a friend with similar goals.

Having a partner to work with is a great motivator to get the ball rolling. Clearly, there are many ways to stay on track, so excuses cannot be made for this new year.

I will be looking out for my friends and family this year supporting them on their journeys of yet another year discovering and growing with themselves. I hope everybody can pursue something they’d like to this new year.

Make those resolutions and stay motivated!