Happy New Year! 365 days have come and passed. 2017 is here! With the new year comes New Years Resolutions. Most people want to lose weight, go to the gym more often, save money, and enjoy life. Everyone wants to have a healthier and happier life.

Have you ever thought about making resolutions for a smarter life? As young members of our society, there are countless ways we can further our knowledge. The best way we can do that is by exercising the most important part of our body: the brain.

The best way to exercise the beautiful brain we all have is by going back to the basics. After completing school, most adults will not pick up a book or write a paragraph unless required by their job. To keep our brains smart and alert, we need to make a point to read and write every day. Have no idea how to start? Try out these two resolutions:

1. Read 12 books in 2017

Everyone should read every day. I'm not saying you have to read 100 pages a day, but you should be reading something aside from your news feed. According to a 2014 Pew poll, only 28% of Americans read 11 books throughout the year. If you already are an active bookworm, this would be easily met, so increase your goal. Fall in love with reading again! Let's increase that percentage in 2017!

2. Write in a journal at least 5 times a week.

Even after you have finished your last English class, you should continue to practice writing. Journaling can strengthen your IQ, achieve your goals, increase emotional intelligence, and benefits you in multiple different ways. There are also different forms of journaling. From the "Dear Diary" format to bullet journaling, there is a type of journaling for every person. Journaling is also a great way for you to express yourself in a private way. Too often people will turn to social media to express their feelings, without thinking of the backlash it can create. This happened a lot during 2016, let's not make it a habit during 2017.

As you make your New Year's Resolution to lose all of your holiday weight, remember to exercise the most important part of your body. I wish you all a healthier, happier, and smarter 2017. Happy New Year!