With 2020 coming to an end, students are preparing to unwind and make merry this holiday season. Many are even brainstorming ways that they can improve themselves for the upcoming year through their New Year’s resolutions.

While the concept of resolutions has been around for thousands of years, it has only become known as a means of self-improvement in modern times. According to Trafalgar Travel, 40% of people in the U.S. create New Year’s resolutions, but only 8% go on to actually achieve them. Over the years, people have cited various reasons for breaking their resolutions.

“I don’t have any New Year’s resolutions this year. I normally don’t [make] them,” sophomore Tara Tran said. “In the past, I’ve never kept my resolutions, because I usually forget or get too lazy.”

Others, however, are doing their best to honor their resolutions this year. Junior Sheona Jerin has already made a goal to enhance her productivity, which is the ninth most common type of New Year’s resolution made according to Vi-An Nguyen of Parade.

“I did make a resolution to try and manage my time a little better because I was constantly getting distracted when I sat down to do my homework or work on something else,” Jerin said.

Jerin also expressed the importance of setting resolutions, since putting in the time to do so can be an achievement in and of itself.

“Making resolutions in the first place [shows] that we are trying to change, and the first part of improvement is acceptance,” junior Sheona Jerin said. “You put in the effort and that’s all that matters.”

Some hope to spend more time with their loved ones and lose weight, while others look to better manage their finances and exercise more. Either way, the aim for many with resolutions is to make next year as much of a positive experience as possible.