In the first few days of the new year, millions worldwide have made resolutions and begun to put them in practice. Gyms are swarmed with new members eager to reach their goals. Grocery stores are perhaps losing soda sales due to attempts at cutting out soft drinks and caffeine. Many of the goals people set are noble, but most fizzle out several months after they are established. My question for America is this: when did creating goals that will benefit ourselves and our quality of life become so hard to stick to? When did laziness and lack of motivation overtake healthy ambition?

Apple added a new feature to its phones several months ago called Screen Time, which calculates how much time you spend on your phone daily and weekly. It also shows a diagram of what exactly you use your phone for: social media, games, productivity, etc. I have to admit - my own personal numbers for how much I use my phone per day are not great at all. And it's all pointless usage, too. Most of my time is spent on games and Instagram rather than on checking emails or making calls. It's pretty sad. I've sometimes found myself wasting days away doing nothing when I could be out being productive to myself and society.

I confess that I have made no resolutions this year because I never seem to stick to them. I'll make up excuses: I have no time, I'm too busy, etc. But the fact of the matter is that instead of using my valuable time to do beneficial things, I opt for laziness. Can any of you relate?

Our time on earth is limited. And the older you get, the faster life flies by. I'm only 18 years old, and I already can recognize this. I know I have my whole life ahead of me, but I also know how quickly I will wake up and suddenly be 65 years old and retired. And I don't want to look back at my life and think, "Wow, what a waste." I want to know in my heart that I truly did my best, worked my hardest, accomplished my goals, and stayed grounded along the way. What I just described is something most people want for themselves, in some way, shape, or form. But in order to do this, we need to wake up.

Make 2019 the year of No Excuses. Limit your social media time, put the phone down, and go outside. Make the resolution to better your life in some way, shape, or form. Make a plan to achieve your goals and get accountability to achieve them. Ask a friend or family member to check up on you and see how you're doing. This is a new year, which means the slate is wiped clean. Don't fall into the trap of laziness. Seize 2019 and resolve to make it your year.