In the past, I have always thought that New Year's resolutions were kind of pointless. To me, it just seemed like a silly tradition that allowed people to make a big deal about something that they want to change in their lives, even if it was something they could do any other day of the year. However, as I've gotten older and have gained more responsibilities, I have started to see New Year's resolutions in a different light. Even though it is true that we could start this change at any point during our year, it seems like there might be no better time than Jan. 1. As a college student, here are five resolutions that could benefit us all:

1. Call your parents more often

For the majority of us, we wouldn't be college students without the help of our parents. Although our lives can seem hectic and it's easy to make excuses not to reach out to your mom and dad, it's important to realize that they're the ones who got us to where we are.

2. Eat healthier

Although this might be the most cliché New Year's resolution there is, it's still important for college students to take note of. After all of the dining hall food and eating out, it's safe to say that our nutrition is far from perfect. You don't have to go on a full-on diet to achieve this resolution, but it never hurts to go to the salad bar and skip the dessert counter at the dining hall (at least every now and then).

3. Keep up with your friends from back home

As we spend more time away from home and grow closer to our college friends, it can become easy to lose touch with our friends from back home. Even though growing apart can be easy, it will be hard to ever find friends who went through all the awkward and exciting times of growing up. There's no better time to catch up with these old friends while you're still home on winter break.

4. Actually stay on top of your class work

At the beginning of each semester, every college student vows that they'll keep up with all their reading and assignments, only to end up cramming at the library during finals week because they procrastinated. However, there's no time like the beginning of 2016 to actually carry out this resolution.

5. Take time for yourself

During our hectic college years, it can be difficult to relax and take care of yourself. Between school, work, and extracurriculars, life can be pretty stressful. Taking time for yourself is important because it doesn't just let you relax, it also improves your physical and mental health. So whether it's going on a run, reading a new book, or listening to music, try to do something that you can really enjoy this coming year.

While these are just five of the infinite number of resolutions you could make this year, I believe they're all important in starting off a better 2016. No matter what your resolution may be, I wish you good luck and a Happy New Year!