It's an extremely common tradition for people to make resolutions for the new year as it arrives. People view a new year as an entirely fresh start, and in a lot of ways it is. The slate from last year is practically wiped clean, nothing has happened in the new year yet, and you can make it anything you want it to be. In the first few weeks a lot of us stay right on track, while others of us never actually really did anything with our resolutions other than write them down. In the end, however, it seems like pretty much all of us make the same new year's resolutions that don't ever end up getting finished. Here are some of the most common ones.

2. Being nicer

Sometimes we wonder if we're too harsh on others. Oftentimes, I wonder if what I said came across as sassy, or if maybe I should watch my tongue a little more, particularly when it comes to my sarcasm. We try really hard at the beginning of the year to be more patient with that guy at work who is constantly getting on our nerves, and it goes well for a couple of days. That is, until he says something completely obnoxious that you just HAVE to comment on.

3. Save money

It all goes well until you see those shoes you want. Or that shirt. Or that new game. Or that new invention that really makes life seem easier. Or until you go out to eat with friends, and then do it again two days later.

4. Make new friends

Everyone wants to make new friends, and really it isn't that this one goes away over time or that you forget about it; it just seems that everything else gets in the way of it. It's hard to make new friends when you don't have a ton of time to spare, so usually this one just goes on the back burner.

5. Get a new job

Sometimes you don't have a job at all, or you have a job you really don't like. We all want to strive to be our best selves and find happiness, so quitting the job that you despise going to on a daily basis really seems like a great way to get there. However, we find a struggle in looking for a new job and we don't feel like going through all the hassle, so we stay where we're comfortable.

6. Take up a new hobby

Again, this one is often stopped because we don't have the time for a hobby, which is why we never picked one up before the new year got there. However, you could also choose one hobby you really don't like, quit it a few days in, and then never pick up another one because you feel like you'll dislike it as much as you did the first one. Plus, hobbies can get expensive, and you're trying to save money, right?

7. Reduce stress

This is a good one, except you find just about everything stressful. Even your stress is stressful to you. You're not even sure what to do at this point, or how to relieve your stress. You're pretty sure it would feel odd to not have stress, so how do you even cope with that? Even when there's nothing to stress about, you're stressed. It's truly all a big mess.

We all make new year's resolutions, and pretty much all of us have not followed through with some of the ones we made. I encourage you this year to give it you're all on one specific resolution. Choose one big thing you want to change and go into it with all your heart. Maybe choose a few smaller ones to go along with it, but choose only one major thing to change so you feel more confident that you'll actually follow through with changing it. I believe that this year, you can make it happen! Prove me right.