As January begins everyone is filled with optimism, a new year, a clean slate, a chance to change yourself, to improve your life. With this optimism we all make resolutions but over the next few months the enthusiasm wears away and very soon our resolutions are forgotten about. By December not many people can even remember what their resolution was, let alone have accomplished them. So why do so many people fail to meet these personally set targets? 

Is it because we overestimate our ablities and set unachievable goals? Perhaps its because other more important things get in the way? Or maybe we just get bored of them?

What about this year, will 2017 be the year that more people stick to their new year resolutions? I spoke to a few people to find out about their progress so far. 

One year 10 student's resolution is 'to read more' and when asked how she is doing so far she said 'good, I've kept to it.' Sanjana, another year 10 student, has made a couple of resolutions: 'to practice piano more often and do homework on the day its set.' So far she has said that 'for the first time I'm actually sticking to all of them but I doubt that this will last very long.' However one primary school student hasn't made any resolutions this year because she said, 'last year I made a list and I never finished any of them.' 

To optimise you chances of sticking to your resolutions you could write them down somewhere, where you will see them everyday. This will constantly remind you what your resolutions are and prevent you from forgetting about them. Or you could break down a big resolution into smaller more achievable tasks. 

So if you haven't already, make a resolution and see if you can make 2017 the year you achieve it.  

Anujah Mohanathan, Newstead Wood School