Every year the ball drops and people swear that they'll change their ways. They portray themselves as a totally new human being regardless of actual changes they intend on making in their daily lives. This practice, in my opinion, is not worthwhile as many say it is. However, I feel as if New Year's resolutions can become a hopeful idea that pushes many people towards their long-awaited goals. The real question is: should you have to wait until January 1st, marking the start of a new year, to start taking a step in the right direction?

Many people attempt diets, exercise routines, healthy eating, and even better communication with friends and family as resolutions. Having the idea that you want to do these things is great, as long as there is follow up and accountability present. My message here: make sure you take your resolutions seriously. A good, achievable resolution can be extremely beneficial to someone who wants to achieve something. However, if you create a goal that is too far out of reach or something you are not willing to change or work for, a New Year's resolution can be somewhat of a burden. This burden will always be looming over your head or sitting as that little devil on your shoulder.

On one hand, this could be a great sense of motivation. Having that cloud over you saying that you should call your mom, or that you should stop binge-watching whatever streaming service you're on and get your booty to the gym could be a great way to actually achieve your goals and make yourself a better you in the new year. On the other hand, if you just loosely make goals with no real plan to carry them out or commit to them, you may feel inadequate to others who are taking their resolutions seriously and reaching their goals. Worse, you may feel a sense of disappointment towards yourself for not being able to stick to or achieve the goal you set to lose 20 pounds by the end of the year or to eat less fast food.

Evidently, I think a New Year's resolution should be more than something you come up with on a tipsy whim on December 31st of the year prior as the ball is about to drop. One sparked interest to change yourself does not lead to change unless you want it to. My advice: take charge of your own life and be the change you wish to see for yourself. You shouldn't even have to wait for the new year to make a positive change for yourself and adjust your life, but the stigma around resolutions gives you the perfect opportunity if you're a procrastinator that wants to take hold of your future. Are resolutions truly good or bad? I guess that's up to you to interpret.

Good luck on all your resolution endeavors and Happy New Year!