Every new school year, I get a little excited. I feel the winds of change and I get pumped for a fresh, new start. Every year, I make a mental list of things I want to accomplish by December, and almost every single year, that never happens. Most of the people I know are the exact same way.

So, here’s a list of things I think we’re all guilty of telling ourselves will happen each time August rolls around that we very rarely accomplish:

“I’ll lose 20 pounds by December.”

Because each and every summer we find ourselves shying away from pool time due to our not-so-beach-ready bodies. We tell ourselves that this semester is our year! Who knows, maybe one day it’ll stick?

“I’ll make all As.”

And then we get into the meat of our classes and laugh at the optimism we had at the beginning of the semester.

“I’m going to put myself out there more.”

Yet, we sit at home and binge watch Netflix for hours on end, with a huge tub of ice cream.

“I’m never skipping class.”

But 8 a.m. comes real early. And there are days when the bed is just too comfortable to leave.

“I’m going to come home and study every night.”

And yet before each and every exam we kick ourselves as we cram as much information into our brains as we possibly can.

“I’m going to start cooking and eating healthy.”

But buying food to cook and cleaning up afterwards takes way more time and money than running through Chik-fil-A on the way home.

“I’m going to stop napping so much.”

I honestly don’t even know why we lie about this one. We know it’s never going to happen.

“I’m going to be a contributing member of society from now on.”

But Netflix. And Napping. They both somehow seem to come first.

“This is the semester I’ll find my true love.”

And you know what? I still tell myself this one. The power of positive thinking and all... can’t give up on it.

“I’m going to keep my room clean all the time.”

Because you really like the way it looks and feels when it’s clean, BUT those weeks with exams in them roll around and your room turns to chaos.

“I refuse to get overwhelmed this semester.”

And yet you always sign up for more than you can swallow and end up sobbing to your mom when you come home for the weekend.

“I’m going to be the best I possibly can.”

And yet, somehow you find out you’re never quite giving it your all.

But who knows? Maybe this year will be different. One can always hope, right?