As the new year drags on and becomes less and less fresh, many of the resolutions that felt so achievable have either been cast aside or made into habit. From returning classics like getting into shape or drinking more water to new goals such as less TikTok, by the time February rolls around, many people forget about their goals to improve their lives and slip right back into old habits. 

Turning the page to a new year comes with a renewed sense of optimism, but also a sense of obligation to commit to a major lifestyle change. Some of the most popular resolutions for 2022 around campus were working out, eating healthier, spending less time on social media, drinking more water, and staying on top of academics this semester. 

“I never really do New Year’s resolutions and when I do I don’t usually stick with them,” said Novato High sophomore Maddie McConnell. “My New Year’s resolution this year is to be productive and improve my life a little through each day. Whether that means drinking enough water, going to sleep at a regular time, eating three meals throughout the day, exercising more, [or] doing homework.” 

McConnell stated that she has been keeping up with this goal so far. 

“I wanted to keep my resolution fairly broad so that it would be easier for me to stick with it,” she said. 

Porter Note, a freshman at Novato High, also shared his resolutions

“I want to continue to hone my creative skills and use my planner more,” he said. “In general, I don’t take them very seriously. My resolutions are more of a list of things I hope to do this year as opposed to goals I’m working to achieve.” 

Moira Dolan, a Novato High freshman, is doing a good job at sticking with her goal. “My New Year’s resolution is to eat a healthier breakfast,” she said. “I am doing very well so far. I try to remind myself that what I’m eating is healthy and is going to start my day off right.” 

Kalyani Ryaru, a junior at Novato High, also shared her resolution. 

“I want to work out more and do SAT prep more consistently in preparation from where I’m taking it in March and again in June. My goal is to prepare for 10 minutes a day and an hour on one day of the weekend,” she said. 

Setting goals that are measurable can help make sure that the goal does not get forgotten as the months progress. For some, keeping track of their goals can be the thing that allows them to continue to stay motivated to complete them throughout the year. 

“I stay on track by keeping a notebook with all the things I need to do in a day,” said McConnell. “Having everything I need to do on paper then being able to cross it off when it’s finished helps remove a lot of stress and helps me complete the goal.”

Of course, everyone’s experience is different and what works for some might not work for everyone. 

 “I tried writing down goals for each month one year and forgot after the first month,” Note recalled.

Ryaru expressed that she thinks resolutions are a great way to set serious goals. 

“Out of all my resolutions I definitely have a hierarchy of goals that are my priority,” she stated. “That said, I am trying to take them all seriously.” 

Overall, New Year’s resolutions are a great way to start off the year right. However, in practice they often get forgotten as life takes over and old habits resurface. Let this article be your official reminder to check in on those goals. February is the perfect month to recenter and get back on track.