You have probably heard someone say they wanted to eat healthier or work out more in the new year. Others may hope to learn a new skill or read more books. These are all common examples of New Year’s resolutions. New Year’s resolutions are goals that people set for themselves to hopefully achieve in the upcoming year. However, many people struggle to follow through. They may keep it up for a couple of months before they fall out of it or give up entirely. Fortunately, there are ways to avoid this. Successful resolutions should align with personal interests and be realistic enough to maintain throughout the year.

STA freshman Emily Spohn has a few New Year’s resolutions already set in stone. She shared, “ I have two. They are to read more and be on my phone less.” To achieve these goals, Spohn plans to combine both objectives into one. She explained, “Whenever I feel the need to be on my phone, I’m going to instead read a book.” She wants to feel more connected to the world around her rather than the world on her phone. This is a good goal for most because phones are a big “problem” right now; users spend more time looking down at screens than at what is right in front of them.

Similarly, STA freshman Georgia Kirner has two resolutions. She explained that she wants, “…to be more present and take more pictures.” Kirner hopes to fulfill these goals by “paying more attention to her surroundings” and “talking to more people.” In the year 2026, she wants to make sure that the memories she creates are not only stored in her mind but also in her phone. She wants to be able to look back and remember the moment. However, she also wants to be more present, so she will need to find a balance between the two, a worthy objective that should be on more people’s minds.

STA freshman Kaitlyn Feinberg has a New Year’s resolution that leans towards her creative mind. Kaitlyn stated, “I want to create more than I consume.” To accomplish this goal, she plans on “drawing more” and “entering a creative flowstate.” Feinberg wants to become more in tune with her imaginative side in 2026. She hopes that in the new year, she will be able to accomplish more in the arts, specifically drawing. Ultimately, Feinberg wants to make sure that her creative juices never stop flowing. Living a life full of imagination and whimsy can help keep the mood light and spirits high when the harshness of reality sets in.