Every year, people make New Year’s resolutions whether they want to achieve goals, take risks or do things they’ve never attempted.

According to www.2011resolutions.org, the top New Year’s resolution of 2012 are to lose weight, be more organized, save money and enjoy life.

“This year, my New Year’s resolutions are to experience new things, be healthier and to travel,” says 22-year-old Alicia Saelee, a liberal arts major at CRC. Saelee says that she has been taking short trips out of Sacramento to the Bay Area to get started on one of her New Year’s resolution.

“I’m also cutting my sugar consumption and being more aware of what I eat and adding in more fruits and vegetables in my diet.” Saelee also says that she’s trying to cut back on smoking and drinking alcohol.

But when it comes to keeping up with New Year’s resolutions, such as losing weight and eating healthier, people often give up on their New Year’s resolution because of commitment issues. According to an online journal called Psychology Today, Psychotherapist Stephen Hayes says that people fail at keep up their New Year’s resolution because they have more than one New Year’s resolution. People should focus on just one New Year’s resolution and goal in order to be successful.

“One of the major mistakes with people and setting goals is they’re not specific,” says Professor Hagenburger, a nutrition professor at Cosumnes River College. “You have to include the ‘how’ and have your goal set.” For those whose New Year’s resolution is either to lose weight or eat healthier, Hagenburger recommends on planning an exercise and what to eat a day ahead. “For those who want to eat healthier and lose weight, eat veggies, fruits, beans, peas and whole grain. Also, drink water instead of soda.”

Another one of the top New Year’s resolutions is to try new things. Jennifer Sernholt, a 26-year-old accounting major at CRC, says that she is planning to run the Tough Mudder, which is a half a marathon that is taking place in September in Sonoma, Calif.  “I run six to seven days a week in order to train myself for the marathon,” says Sernholt. “I eat healthier and I work out at the gym to prepare myself.”

There are also those whose New Year’s resolution is to change something about them. Ashley Campbell, a 19-year-old psychology major at CRC, says that most of her New Year’s resolution is to grow as a person and be more introspective.

“I would like to grow as a person and meet someone with the same goal so we can grow together and have a strong relationship,” says Campbell.

Professor Hagenburger says that the best way to keep up with a New Year’s resolution or a goal is to have a motivation. When asked what her motivation was, Sernholt said her motivation was her son. “Everything I do is for him.”

“If you’re going to change a habit, you have to find something to replace it,” said Hagenburger.