As 2018 is (thankfully) coming to a close, you know that it's time to start expertly planning your New Year's resolutions to accomplish in 2019. For some, New Year's is a time to look far beyond the achievements and failures of the previous year and set eyes on whatever prize one is looking to grasp within the coming year. Yet, if you're anything like me, you are probably sitting and reflecting on all of the resolutions you did not fulfill this past year, and you're definitely not planning to add more to your list anytime soon.

I believe that New Year's is not a time to dwell on the resolutions that were left seemingly unfulfilled, but rather, it is a time to reflect on the positive achievements that have been attained. Whether you obtained excellent grades, landed your dream job or traveled to one of the gorgeous and lively locations on your bucket list, you fulfilled a resolution.

The truth is that, by living in today's society, we tend to feel overwhelmed from the constant pressures surrounding us. As the years go by, the things we once found simple become utterly more complex. The older we grow, the more competitive we grow, and the more influenced we become. In this time of New Year's, we look ahead for a fresh start. Yet, more often than not, our resolutions that we did not fulfill tend to transfer over into the following year, and the weight upon our backs gains. There are aspirations we wish to accomplish in our lives that likely cannot be fulfilled within a one year period. Therefore, we should not continue to pressure ourselves with a 365-day deadline in order to do what we think will make our lives come full circle.

Each year, we are faced with more and more unexpected challenges which often interfere with the achievements of our resolutions. My best advice and personal belief is to take the year in slowly and face each day one at a time. By doing so, you are likely to be more successful in the long run as opposed to pushing yourself to accomplish a goal that may no longer mean as much one year from now.