Upon the end of another year, people all over the world strive to correct their past mistakes. Whether it’s working out more or spending more time with family, New Year’s resolutions can help anybody improve anything about themselves. However, do many people actually try to keep their resolutions throughout the new year? Plenty of people try hard to keep their resolutions for the first month of the new year, but temptation and laziness can rid a person of their goals of improvement.

According to the New York Times, “Most people are not going to keep their resolutions all year long. They’ll start out with the best of intentions but the worst of strategies, expecting that they’ll somehow find the willpower to resist temptation after temptation.” It’s also rather important to think about the obstacles that have prevented you from keeping your resolution in the past when thinking about the new year. It can help push you to really come through and succeed with your goal. Not only that, but the New York Times also said, “By the end of January, a third of the people will have broken their resolutions, and by July more than half will have lapsed. They’ll fail because they’ll eventually run out of willpower, which social scientists no longer regard as simply a metaphor. They’ve recently reported that willpower is a real form of mental energy, powered by glucose in the bloodstream, which is used up as you exert self-control.” If you really want to make this year different and succeed with your resolutions, you need to power through with your willpower, and push for greater success. It might be tough, but who says you aren’t? If these life goals are truly important, do yourself a favor and make this year a great one.

Danielle Huser, a 9th grader at Oakton, said, ”New Year’s resolutions are a good way to think about what you want to accomplish in the upcoming year, even though most people forget about or give up on their resolutions. The reason for this is because most people make extremely unattainable goals, making it nearly impossible to achieve them.” Achieving your goals won’t be a cakewalk, especially if your goal is to end world hunger. Remember to create resolutions that you can own up to, or your intentions won’t last very long. Also, Amber Donaldson said, “Every year during New Years I suddenly get motivated to improve my life by making one or more resolutions.  However, each year I make the same resolution, and each year it lasts for about a week.” Trying to achieve New Year resolutions can be tough for anybody, but you can help the situation with emotional support. It’s so much easier working towards a goal when you have someone who can stand by you. Working together can increase your chances for a better future and success in the new year to come.

While New Year’s is a time to think about the future, it is also crucial to reflect upon the past. As the great philosopher, Confucius, once said, ““If you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of ten years, plant trees; if in terms of 100 years, teach the people.” This quote can be interpreted in many ways, but this inspirational saying truly embodies the main idea of improvement and how far you’ll go to reach success for it. Whether you’re making a New Year’s resolution for one or more years, it’s important create an impact on your future and the future of others as well. Trying your hardest to create success for yourself can truly help you achieve greatness and it can help you gain a new perspective on yourself. If you’re one of those people who usually give up on New Year’s resolutions, try to be different this upcoming year and push yourself to be your very best self. Besides, you might be surprised by what you gain from doing so.