Not many things represent new beginnings like the coming of a new year. People all around the world use it as an opportunity to change themselves, whether by eating better, working out more, or some other positive habit. These thoughts, although good, often become neglected by February or sooner. This phenomenon can’t help but make one question the usefulness of New Years resolutions. How often do you continue your resolution to the end of the year? This occurrence seems to remain incredibly rare, even though humans have been attempting it for centuries.

In my opinion, if you really want to change, you’ll change. You won’t wait until the New Year just to make some showy cliche announcement that by the end of the year you’ll be 20 pounds lighter, you’ll set goals and follow them through. Those who make resolutions just to abandon them a short time later only wanted to change because those around them wanted to, not because they really had the motivation. But don’t be discouraged if this describes you. Keep trying. Just because you failed this year doesn’t mean you have to wait until next year to try again.

The calendar is a human invention. It was created to organize time. January 1st is just another number. If you really think about it, the best day to change is today, because as soon as you realize that, being a better person is going to get a lot more real, and just a little easier.