New Years is always the holiday that people associate with changing themselves and making a better version of themself in the new year. Over my 21 years of life, I have had more than my fair share of resolutions that, quite frankly, fall through pretty quickly. This year, I've decided to "leave things behind" rather than make resolutions about what I'm going to do. Maybe I'll have better luck with these five things if I see it as leaving them behind in 2016:

1. Negative people – now I know this is sort of the pot calling the kettle black, but there are some people in my life that are better left behind in 2016. Whether I realized it long ago or just finally had an epiphany, not every deserves to be in my life and I need to do what’s best for me. Some people won't be joining me in 2017. #sorrynotsorry

2. My negativity – as I said before, I’m a pot calling the kettle black with my own negativity. I find it so easy to find the worst in every situation and although I’m very aware that I do it, I need to stop focusing on the negativity. In 2017, I’m really going to try to focus on positive aspects more so than the negative.

3. My procrastination problem – for whatever reason this past semester, I was the Queen of Procrastination. I don’t know why it was such a problem this semester specifically, maybe it was being burnt out from my three jobs this summer and jumping right back into a crazy semester, but I just couldn’t motivate myself to get assignments done in a reasonable time. Next semester (although it will be my last), I will seriously be getting things done earlier. After writing at 37 page thesis in essentially three days, I decided enough was enough and I needed to change sooner rather than later. I have procrastinated on ending my procrastination so obviously I’m going to need a lot of work on this one.

4. Thinking I’m not qualified enough – as I have filled out job applications and will be filling many out in the near future (graduation is less than five months away!!), I need to just go for it. I often look at job requirements, don't think I qualify enough, and skip it and go on to the next one. I was telling my dad about it one day and he said “It’s not your job to decide if you’re qualified enough; apply anyways and let other people make that decision.” If I can do everything I’ve managed to accomplish in the past with the little-to-no qualification or experience and succeeded anyways, who’s to say I can’t get that job or someone won't give me a chance?

5. Bad eating habits and lack of exercise – although you might be able to argue the amount I walk around campus and town as a car-less person could qualify as a fair amount of exercise, I know it’s not enough, so next year I’m going to step it up. I used to be better about going on runs but between lack of time and motivation, distance from the gym and embarrassment about being seen running in public, I really started slacking in 2016. My diet was probably worse than my lack of exercise. There were a lot of quick meals or feeling too lazy to put in much effort in a real meal. In 2017, I’m going to eat much healthier and put in more effort into my diet and exercise.