It’s now February and if you made New Year’s resolutions, like most people, you’ve probably forgotten what yours even were. Society has painted a picture of the first day of every new year as a happy rebirthing and a time for change and improvement. Although this is a good thing, change shouldn’t only pertain to Jan. 1, it should happen year round.

We’ve heard all of the cliche resolutions before: eat healthier, work out more, drink more water, quit (insert bad habit here). Honestly though, if someone truly wanted to make that change they would change it whenever they wanted to, and the change would stick. No more going to the gym for a month and then forgetting about it. Change doesn’t just magically happen. If you want to improve, you have to work for it, and the tradition of that happening solely because it’s a new year needs to stop.

Maybe my frustration stems from never being able to fulfill my own New Year’s resolutions. They were always the same every year because I never did them. So one day I decided, “hey, I’m going to start doing this and see what the positive benefits are.” I figured out that it was up to me, not the year. This is why everyone should quit with New Year’s resolutions and make reasonable resolutions they can stick to whenever they want to. It doesn’t matter if it’s the beginning, middle or end of the year, change is always possible.

If you’re finding it hard to stick to your goals, find a buddy to hold you accountable, look for inspiration or think of how great the outcome would be if you would stick with the hard work. The new year hype might get people excited but you’re the same person you were on Dec. 31 as you are on Jan. 1. The strike of the clock on midnight doesn’t make you better, your hard work does.