Every Jan. 1, individuals world-wide embark on a new journey with new goals, like drinking more water or trying to be more focused. These New Year’s resolutions are highly-regarded until February, when people stop doing them. 

Oftentimes, the reasons a resolution fails to last for an entire year and are only followed for 2-3 months; only 6% of respondents stuck with their resolutions year-round, according to a Forbes Health poll. 

For college students, these resolutions may look like this: “Be an academic weapon, not an academic victim,” or “Get outside more or spend more time in the gym.” But then, the semester inevitably gets chaotic, and you begin to skip the assignments and workouts. There’s no shame in missing a day or two; however, it shouldn’t discourage you from continuing to pursue your goals. 

Conversely, some don’t make New Year’s resolutions and are content with setting smaller goals that don’t, necessarily, need a year to come to fruition. Despite the hype of “new year, new me,” there may be value in consistency and not trying to change only at the start of a new year. 

While 2024-the-plot is already off to a cold start for NIU students, this year’s plot should be full of growth and positive change, not a year of failed resolutions.

But, the most important opinion is that of NIU students. What are their New Year’s resolutions and how has January been going for them so far?