When it comes towards the end of the year, many people start thinking about New Years Resolutions. Some you may have heard of are, "I'll start exercising more!" or "I'll drink more water!" or anything in between. My New Year's resolutions are usually so extreme that they usually do not end up happening. It's not that I don't aspire to make them happen . . . it's just that they sometimes doesn't seem possible.

Going into 2017, I decided to create a few New Year's resolutions that would benefit my health, as well as try getting myself out there, so to speak.

1. Exercising 2x a week.

During my first semester of college, I took a gym class that required me to work out at least three times a week for 30 minutes. I did just that and honestly, it was the healthiest I had felt in a long time. Not only that, I was (and still am!) on a dance team that meets three times a week. Plus, this past year, I was a guinea pig for a athletic training class and I was challenged physically, which was what I wanted. I just need the mentality to tell myself to work out for 30 minutes. I think it'll help me out in the long run.

2. Drinking more WATER!

Now this, I make my New Years resolution every single year. I have tried really hard to make water more to my liking; I've put fruit it in, when there is ice in it, everything. Since I dance a lot, I decided that maybe drinking Gatorade isn't the way to go — even though it is delicious. I plan to make a habit and actually drink a couple glasses of water every day. Besides, my body needs it.

3. Drinking less soda.

This actually goes with the drinking water resolution. If you know me, I drink a lot of soda. I realized during the end of the year that a particular soda makes me break out in certain areas on my face. So, I would like to cut down on soda drinking and drink more water and fruit juices, that way my skin can clear up and I can not crave soda when I eat or do anything else.

4. Have cleaner and healthier skin.

I actually have very nice skin; it's just in my T-zone I have a problem with. I have some pretty awful blackheads that I can't seem to get rid of. In fact, I'm getting a facial and seeing a dermatologist next week, so we can resolve this issue. This goes with drinking less soda, and drinking more water — You see the connection here? I feel good in my own skin, but I'd feel even better if I didn't think about the blackheads on my face.

5. Travel more!

My family and I travel enough as it is, but we haven't exactly seen all of the world. I have a passport and I'd like to use it in a totally different country, and not just going to the Caribbean or Mexico. I'd like to travel to East Asia, while I still have the chance. It has been a HUGE passion of mine to actually go to Japan and recently, South Korea to really absorb the culture and the language.

So there you have it, these are five of my New Years resolutions that I have for the year 2017. Some others I have would be graduating from college in May and being able to find work after college. I have less that 365 days to change. What are your New Years resolutions? Are you ready to make a change to your life?