Every year, millions of Americans take part in the saying, “New Year, New Me.”

What does this saying exactly entail?

Is it the classic, “I’m cutting people out come January 1^st”? Or how about the always amusing, “This year I’m not putting up with anyone’s crap. Not spending a second on someone that is only bringing negativity to my life.”

Okay, great. But are you actually going to follow up on those?

Studies show that the first quarter of the year is the busiest time for gyms and health clubs. But what happens to the rest of the year? Does life just get in the way? Whatever happens to people’s New Year’s Resolutions?

I definitely can say I’ve taken part in the dropping of New Year’s Resolutions. Now, I know this isn’t done on purpose. They kind of just slip out of our minds. Life gets really busy at times, but that doesn’t mean we should lose focus on what we initially wanted the first of the year. We set that ‘goal’ for a reason, shouldn’t we work to achieve it?

Some of the most common New Year’s Resolutions are as follows: Stay fit and healthy, lose weight, enjoy life to the fullest, spend less and save more, spend more time with family and friends, get organized, learn something new, travel more, and read more (according to Nielsen.com). All of these are great, and reasonably easy to manage. People tend to go for more generic, broad resolutions, but sometimes it’s more personal to go for a specific resolution that fits to your lifestyle. For example, I have decided that I want my resolution for 2017 to be to connect to God more every day. I always try to do this, but it can sometimes be easy to forget to pray every day, or not have time every week to go to church. That is something I want to change in 2017.

Personally, that goal isn’t something that seems impossible to reach. I also believe it helps to write down your resolution and put it somewhere that you can look at it every day and be reminded of your initial goal.

You make a resolution for a reason. If you knew you would just drop it halfway through the year, then why make one in the first place? Push yourself this year. Accomplish that goal. Trust me, it feels great to accomplish a goal. To know you’ve worked for an entire year, or maybe even less if you accomplish it prior to the 31^st, is a wonderful and rewarding feeling. Want to get in shape? Well then get that gym membership, or buy those work-out CD’s, or get that personal trainer, whatever you’re comfortable with, and you get in shape. Want to work to become a better you? Then you do what you feel is necessary to accomplish that.

Don’t give up. Giving up isn’t an option this year. Keep striving for that goal. Be supportive to your friends and family to help them achieve their goal. Surround yourself with people that’ll help you complete your 2017 New Year’s Resolution. You can do it. This year is your year.