At the start of every new year, we sit down and think about how we want this year to be better than the last. We ask ourselves how we want to improve and get better, what needs to change and what should be kept the same. 2017 holds a lot of potential; it’s a brand new year after all. But we’re not all great at holding ourselves accountable to these new year’s goals. Here are a few resolutions we should try a bit harder to stick to in 2017.

1. Read more

Go ahead and finish the book that's been sitting on your nightstand for months. It's hard to make the time to read, especially as our schedules get busier and busier. But even just a chapter before bed every night eventually amounts to a full book.

2. Spend time with loved ones

It's important to show our friends and family just how much they mean to us. Texts and calls are nice, but nothing beats face-to-face interaction. Spending time with someone is the best way show that you care about the relationship.

3. Be healthier

For me, that means cooking more food at home and spending less at Taco Bell. For others, it could be working out three times a week. Whatever is doable and manageable for you, try it out. See if you can't improve your diet or your habits.

4. Less social media

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. They're all a time-suck. Even just cutting down on the time spent scrolling through feeds and timeline would leave you more time to do the other things in your resolutions.

5. Sleep in every once in awhile

We all need to catch a break every now and again. If you've got the time, why not spend it getting a full night's sleep?

6. Travel more

Go on a road trip or spend a weekend in Cancun. Traveling doesn't have to be an extravagant trip to Europe. It could be a new city in your home state. As long as you're exploring, you're traveling.

7. Volunteer

Once it isn't required for school credit or resume padding, people tend to forget about volunteering but it's a really important part of the community. There are plenty of organizations that would be glad to have the additional help.

8. Don't stress so much

Stress and anxiety will not make your year any better. Sure, a balanced dose every now and then can kick your butt into gear, but too much isn't good for you. Learning to manage your stress levels and pinpointing what triggers your stress will help make your 2017 better.

9. Save money

It can be really hard to do, but saving money is necessary especially for those fresh out of college new adults like myself. There's loans to payback, apartments to rent, groceries to buy. Be responsible with your paycheck and try to put some back.

10. Do that thing you’ve been meaning to do for years!

I've been meaning to write a novel since I was eleven. What is it that you've been putting on the back burner?