It seems like just yesterday students were celebrating Halloween. But 2016 is quickly approaching, and with a new year knocking comes the start of the holiday season. Which is most easily one of the greatest times of the year.

We see our old friends from high school when going home for break, and we get to spend quality time with our family. Also we get to experience the end of another, hopefully, great year. But what the start of a new year also means is New Year’s resolutions.

We all know how this goes, you make them and, shortly after, you break them.

We are prone to making overly general New Year’s resolutions that are quickly found to be unattainable. Numerous times it has been the scenario where someone sets his or her resolution for the New Year to be to lose weight. That’s good and all, but how much? It is important to be more specific in order to hold yourself to the commitment. Or else two weeks later you’ll say to yourself, “I lost two pounds. That’s losing weight, right? I completed my resolution.” And then you’ll give up.

Why not set a goal for ourselves that is more specific, and something that we know we can achieve?

New Year’s resolutions most commonly have to do with some sort of self-improvement. According to Statistic Brain Research Institute, the top three New Year’s resolutions for 2015 were to: lose weight, get organized and to spend less and save more. These are perfectly acceptable resolutions to have, but again specifics matter.

Oh, you’re going to get organized? How? You need to make a list of things you are going to get organized. Therefore you can physically check them off as the year progresses.

You want to spend less and save more? Again, calculate out from your paycheck how much you want to set aside to save each month. Also come up with a list of ways to spend less. For example, start saving and using more coupons. You don’t have to be on TLC’s Extreme Couponing, but every little bit saved counts.

Statistic Brain also reports, “people who explicitly make resolutions are 10 times more likely to attain their goals than people who don’t explicitly make resolutions.”

Now, one might be thinking, “I’m in college. I’m young. Just let me have fun.”

Well, why not make a resolution specifically tailored to your college education? For example, make a plan to study in W.T. Young library for at least three hours a week.

Just remember to make your New Year’s resolution something attainable, and make sure to include details (so you know exactly what you want accomplished).

What happens in 2016 is all up to you so make the most of it.

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