Every year around this time, we hear the typical New Year's’ Resolutions:

“I’m going to lose weight.”

“I’m going to exercise more!”

“I’m quitting my job.”

“I’ll learn something new!”

“I’ll spend less, and save more.”

While all of these, among so many others, are great things to want to change about yourself and your life, why do we wait until the New Year to make these changes?

I was watching Steve Harvey’s show with my grandparents last week and someone asked asked him what his New Year’s Resolution was for 2017. His response was something along the lines of this: “Why do I need to wait until the New Year? If I want to change something about myself, I’ll do it today.” Hearing that got me thinking -- why do we wait until the New Year to make all of these “life changes”?

I feel like a lot of people have high expectations when the ball drops at midnight, as though the whole world changes at that exact moment and so will you. But in reality, most people don’t follow through on their resolutions, and say “oh I’ll just do it next year.” The key is to actually follow through, because once you do, you will find your life changing in whatever way you may need it to. If you really choose to commit to your resolution, then the ball will have worked its New Year magic.

I encourage everyone to keep their New Year’s resolutions, but understand that if you find something else you want to change at any point in 2017, do it. You don’t need to wait until 2018 to make it a new resolution.

Each and every one of the 365 days in a year is a brand new opportunity to have a fresh start. It is not solely the job of January 1st. It won’t be easy to make changes in your life, but with determination and perseverance, anything can happen. Keep moving forwards, never back. While you may have some pauses along the way to your goal, it is important to never give up, and work your way through. Keep taking steps, no matter how small, to the things you want to accomplish and one day, you will.

If you want something in your life to change, then change it. Don’t wait until the New Year, or next week, or even tomorrow. It is up to you to change, no one else.