A new decade has arrived and the annual production of New Year’s resolutions has begun. Kim Roberts, psychology professor, said the new year inspires people to put their best foot forward and start fresh.

Unfortunately, Roberts said, many of the resolutions made are unrealistic and left unfinished.

“People stop following their resolutions and are left feeling like their year was unsuccessful and somewhat incomplete,” Roberts said.

Nonetheless, people continue to make New Year’s resolutions and hope the up-and-coming 365 days will be better than the last.

“Like the new year, they want a new “me’ and the chance to rid him or herself of old habits,” Roberts said.

Unfortunately, many students, like sophomore kinesiology major Larysa Rhone, said they never adhered to their resolutions in the past.

“This year, I didn’t make a New Year’s resolution because I realized that it was pointless. I know I wasn’t going to keep it, so it was like I was lying to myself,” Rhone said.

Roberts said because of unattainable resolutions only about 10 percent of people keep their orginal goal in tact.

“I think resolutions are effective if they are realistic. For example, cleaning out the garage is a realistic activity and thus makes for a perfect resolution, ” Roberts said.

Roberts said if individuals make a resolution to get to the gym twice a day, when in reality they can barely make it twice a month, they are setting themselves up for failure.

Instead of setting resolutions that are hard to follow, Roberts said smaller goals might be a better option.

Melanie Moat, sophomore communication studies major, said she keeps resolutions to “small feats,” which can be attained quite easily. She said this “”stepping block system” helps her follow and achieve her resolutions with ease.

“I usually make very attainable resolutions. For example, one resolution this year was to beat Diddy Kong Racing on (Nintendo) DS; it’s short, sweet, simple and attainable,” Moat said.

John Kanemoto, sophomore mathematics major, is also using the new year as an opportunity to improve his life. Kanemoto said the new decade is giving him a “sense of a new beginning.”

“The whole ball-dropping is very symbolic to me; there is no other time to spark a new resolution,” Kanemoto said.

Kanemoto has created resolutions that can improve his life emotionally, rather than physically. He is planning on prioritizing his life and making school his main objective.

He has also vowed to direct his full attention to completing specific long-term goals, such as reaching his teacher preparation mathematic major requirements through the Sac State Blended Program.

Besides setting resolutions focused primarily on school improvements, Kanemoto uses the new year to find ways in which he can simply enjoy life.

For instance, he helps a nonprofit community organization, the Florin Japanese American Citizens League.

By being a part of this group and having the resolution to put more time toward their youth program, Kanemoto feels he will gain fulfillment because he is helping bring together the Japanese-American youth within his community.

Kanemoto also hopes the new year will help him see what his life goals really are and what steps he needs to take to reach them.

“Resolutions should be more than just losing the usual 10 pounds, it needs to be more. To find true content within your life, you need to be satisfied with who you are.” Kanemoto said.

Lindsey Halsey, senior psychology major, said has tried to follow a resolution concerning her weight and health for the past three years and every year turns up unsuccessful because of a lack of structure and focus.

Since not fulfilled previously, Halsey once again added “being healthy” to her list of resolutions for 2010.

Halsey said she thinks that following this year’s resolution will be different.

Halsey said that in order to follow her resolution she must develop an exercise and diet regimen that she can follow at her own pace.

Roberts has also had some difficulties in the past with adhering to resolutions.

“Last year I made a resolution to pick up at least one piece of trash a day that I saw on campus or around my neighborhood.

I’ve been doing pretty well but there are those days I’m in a hurry and don’t pick it up,” Roberts said.

To refrain from setting herself up for failure, Roberts didn’t set any New Year’s resolutions for this year, but did make plenty of goals.

“Try out a few small goals instead of one large resolution,” said Roberts.

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