2013. The year of #YOLO. But was it really? Did you truly live like you would only live once? Did you live every day like it was your last? Unless you are Miley Cyrus, my guess is you probably didn’t. This is why each year, 45 percent of Americans embrace the tradition of making New Year’s resolutions. People attempt to step up their #YOLO game by making such promises as losing weight, eating healthier and improving their style. However, if you are anything like me, your New Year’s resolutions end up becoming last year’s failures. Alas, you can make your resolutions work, or as Miley would say, make them twerk.  Here are four ideas to keep in mind when fulfilling New Year’s resolutions.

Let’s be honest

One of the keys to successful New Year’s resolutions is being realistic. Set goals for yourself that are ambitious, yet still achievable with the right amount of dedication and discipline. If you want to shed a few pounds, don’t attempt Beyonce’s master cleanse diet of lemon juice, cayenne pepper and maple syrup. Instead, resolve to eat smaller portions and work out regularly. Always do what is best for you.

The buddy system

Put a positive spin on peer pressure. Tell your friends about your New Year’s resolutions. Inspire them to join you, or simply ask them to support you. A friend can encourage you to focus on sticking to your resolution. We all know true friends will tell us what we don’t necessarily want to hear but need to hear.

To see is to believe and achieve

Visualize your goals. When you see your goal, you are more likely to see yourself achieving it. Find a way to represent your New Year’s resolutions. For example, try clipping pictures out of a magazine and creating an inspiration board on your dorm wall. If you want to achieve a specific weight, write the weight number down on paper and place it somewhere you can see every day.

There’s an app for that

We can all admit to excessive smartphone usage, so why not make the time you spend on your iPhone more productive?  The Apple app store features free downloads to help you attain your goals.

• 43 Things: This app incorporates a social aspect to setting goals. It allows you to share your list of goals on social networks. Because friends can view your progress, they can provide you with the extra motivation you may need.
• Mindbloom: This visually appealing app enables you to grow a tree representing the life you want to create. Each time you accomplish a goal your tree will grow. You can also upload images and music to provide inspiration for achieving resolutions.
• CheckMark: CheckMark is an easy-to-use app that features a checklist to track progress. Simply check off a task once you complete it.

2014. It’s a new year. It’s out with the old and in with the new — hopefully, a new you. Take some time to enjoy the small things in life. Engage in activities that enhance your daily life, whether it be rocking a new fashion trend, tackling a recipe for the first time or redecorating your dorm to make it your own. Why waste time doing anything else? Make 2014 the year of #NDBT. No day but today. No year but this year.

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