The living room is dim, it’s midnight, the only light comes from some lamps in the corner, my family and I are talking about our New Year’s resolutions, and how we’re actually going to do them this year. But, skip to a few weeks later, and most of our resolutions are covered in cobwebs and forgotten in a dark attic. Why do so many people not follow through on their new years resolutions? What happens to “New Year, New Me” every new year?

When you think of New Year’s resolutions, you think of progress, growth, and hopefulness, right? But, that belief is just smoke and rose-colored mirrors, as eighth grade student Colton Baker has pointed out.

“People aren’t really likely to complete their resolutions,” Baker said. “There may be 1 in 100 who actually completes their resolution.”

We should ask the central question, Why do people drop their resolutions? 

“People quit their new years resolutions because they realize how hard it is,” eighth grader Thomas Chrystal said. “They only really liked their resolution when it was easy and fun.”

But how then can one make their doomed resolutions into hopeful reality? Eighth grade student Aiden Aguinaldo has an simple answer.

“To accomplish your new years resolution you must be clear, specific and be realistic with your resolution,” Aguinaldo said.

Chrystal however, has a different idea of how to keep your resolutions alive.

“The way to make your resolutions last is to find one for your schedule and that’s fun for you,” Chyrstal said

But, if you’ve decided to switch out your new years resolutions for another tradition, Baker has some recommendations.

“New year’s choices, new years opinions, or new year’s un-resolutions,” Baker said. “Those are some good new years traditions you can do instead of resolutions.”

But, if you want to give up traditions altogether and go for some funner activities, Baker also has some ideas for you.

“Some fun things you can do instead are sleep, eat hot dogs, adopting or caring for an animal and sleeping some more,” Baker said.