Things have finally calmed down. Winter break is over and Christmas decorations have all been packed away and stuffed back into the garage.

Now that a new year has begun, there is just one more thing that should be packed away: The old holiday habits.

It’s hard to stop waking up at 2 p.m. and stuffing your face with snowman cookies for “breakfast,” but if you were finally able to get “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer” out of your head, then anything is possible.

The most commonly ditched of all holiday habits are New Year’s resolutions. You are not alone if you feel like you’ve lost faith in making a New Year’s resolution.

Harmonie Rodriguez, 21, a Cal State Fullerton business major, has given up on making New Year’s resolutions.

“I just never bother [making a New Year’s resolution,]” said Rodriguez. “I know I won’t take the time to follow through and the new year shouldn’t be the only time you try to change. It should be constant.”

Alvaro Mascorro, 21, a human services major, agrees that New Year’s resolutions shouldn’t just be made in January.

“I really dont beleive the date matters when making a change for oneself. That’s why I think new Year’s resolutions are just a fad,” said Mascorro.

With the start of a new season and a new year, there are infinite possibilities, and while last year’s resolution may not have worked out so well for you, these tips can help this year’s resolution stick for good:

Step 1: Be realistic.  The biggest problem with making New Year’s resolutions is that they are made at a time when the stresses of every day life are not present, making some resolutions a bit unrealistic. The first step towards fulfilling a resolution is setting realistic goals for yourself. For example, if you know you are going to be swamped with chemistry classes, then three-hour work-out sessions everyday probably aren’t your best bet. Plan your resolution around your life and make time, ahead of time, to fulfill it.

Step 2: Write it Down.
Another problem with New Year’s resolutions is a simple one – they are easy to forget about. It’s easy to remember in February a promise you made in January, but as the months roll on, the reason why you decided to make that resolution fades from your memory.

Yesenia Altamirano, 20, a Chicano studies and political science major, knows all too well about New Year’s resolutions and how hard it is to stick with them.

“I think everyone gets excited for a little while with the New Year,” she said. “Yet somewhere along the way the excitement fades and [everyone goes] back to the same routines [they] had before.”

Write out your goals for the year and why you want to achieve them. Post them up in your room as a reminder. Doing so will help you accomplish your goals.

Step 3: Grab a buddy.
Find a friend with the same resolution as you. Are both of you working towards getting in shape or learning a new skill? Why not try it together? Working on a resolution with a friend can make the experience much more fun. Having a buddy can also help with encouragement and understanding of the struggles being faced to achieve this goal. At the end of the year you can celebrate your great accomplishments together.

It is not too late to make a New Year’s resolution. It’s a brand new year, so try something new.

Stuck in a rut? Find someone whose New Year’s resolution is to be more helpful towards others. They will be more than happy to help.