The New Year will soon be here, and you know what that means: more resolutions you won’t keep, again.

Most people make the same New Year’s resolutions over and over, only to give up when March rolls around. The most common resolution is to lose weight, followed by quitting smoking, getting a better job, saving money and quitting drinking.

New Year’s resolutions began as a secular tradition, and was most common in the Western world, although it was known in Eastern cultures where a person would promise to do something along the lines of self-improvement or do something nice for others.

The ancient Babylonians would make promises to their gods to pay their debts and return borrowed items. On the other hand, the Romans made promises to the god Janus. Medieval knights took a vow to be more chivalrous.

As the Jewish New Year ends in Yom Kippur (the day of atonement), people ask for forgiveness for their wrongdoings and promise to do better in the coming year. Catholics similarly consider self-improvement during Lent.

Around the world, people tend to wipe the slate clean on New Year’s Eve and start again Jan. 1.

New Year’s resolution postcards, circa 1915.

Might I suggest that we all take a look at ourselves on New Year’s Eve and try to become better human beings? Think about being patient, kind and understanding with others. Be a model human being, a mentor for others to follow. Review your year and evaluate your successes and failures. Make solid resolutions you can keep. While they should be challenging, they should have realistic, attainable goals.

My favorite resolutions are:

Volunteer: Volunteer to help people in need, volunteer with a nonprofit organization that needs help, offer to babysit a friend’s child one evening, volunteer at the hospital, the senior center, the food pantry, any charity. You could even volunteer to work part-time for a 501c3 organization or mentor a child, help build a house, send gifts and cards to our service personnel abroad; you could donate furniture, clothing or household items.

Help the Environment: You can volunteer to pick up trash, remove graffiti, pick up micro-trash to help the condors, remove non-native invasive plants, help paint a building, work in a garden, or volunteer to clean up an elderly person’s yard. Just picking up a few pieces of trash here and there while you hike along a trail will be a great help. While you’re thinking of the environment, get in the habit of recycling, reducing your carbon footprint and reusing as many things as you can, or donate them so someone else can use them. Start a compost pile and put all of your vegetation such as grass clippings and food scraps (no meat) in there. That will keep all of that stuff out of the landfills.

Lose weight/get fit: This is a New Year’s Resolution I hear again and again. Unfortunately, it is one of the most difficult. Everyone starts starving himself on Jan. 1, and puts in eight hours a day in the gym. That lasts about three days. A better idea is to join a hiking club (such as the Community Hiking Club in Santa Clarita – it’s free, it’s fun and we’ve all been there) or another group where you can get support and have fun, and little by little, the weight will start coming off. It’s fun, it’s healthy, it’s doable. If you don’t like to hike, you can walk or bike. Choose your sport, then join in and have fun. You might consider eating healthier, too. That’s a bonus resolution that you can keep. Doing something physical can also help you to manage stress better, lower your blood pressure and learn to relax.

Some people are thinking about improving their lot in life by getting a better job. You can start this resolution by getting a better education. A few classes might be all you need to impress a new or prospective boss. Perhaps education is a longer-term goal. You’re never too old to learn something new. Meanwhile, you might consider managing your debt better at the same time. Being educated, well-employed and debt-free is truly an accomplishment.

My favorite resolution is to vow to take a trip. I love trips. I love visiting new sites, eating strange foods and breathing in new cultures. I will jump at almost any chance to travel. To me, this is hardly a resolution. But I know people who will resist travel as long as possible. They are afraid of it, in fact. So, to those of you who share this phobia, I say: Get your toes wet. Travel. It will make you a better, more understanding, and fulfilled human being. There is a huge gap between cultures when people don’t share. Start with an easy trip. You probably don’t want to plunge into the deepest, darkest jungles on your first trip.

You might want to take a good, long, hard look at yourself on New Year’s Eve and vow to do some self-improvement. We’ve already discussed losing weight and eating better, so you might address some other habits, like drinking, smoking, biting your nails or other bad habits. You might consider what others say about you. Are you positive or are you grumpy? Do you manage your time well? Do you laugh or cry? Do people like to be around you, or do they make excuses? Do you watch too much TV? Do you play too many video games or spend all of your free time on the computer? You might consider improving your social skills, making more friends, or even spending more time with your family. And work doesn’t always have to come first, you know. You might even consider getting organized.

Enjoy life: Lastly, you might consider vowing to enjoy life more. With all of our hectic, crazy schedules, it’s often hard to think of what we’d like to be doing. But getting rid of all of that stress, limiting all of the things you don’t like to do, spending more time with friends and family, spending time with a holistic healer for a massage just might be the things you need. Promise to do at least one nice thing for yourself every month. You could have a facial or go to the theatre or a movie. You could start a new hobby or go ice skating. Take a few steps just for yourself. Life is short. Give yourself a few little gifts now and then. Now, that’s a resolution you can always stick with.

Eighty-eight percent of New Year’s resolutions fail. Setting a measurable goal can help. Having support of friends and family is important. Don’t let someone undermine your good intentions. If you need to make resolutions to improve ailing health or relationships, counselors can help you to reinforce your resolve and help you to make those goals a reality.

So, here’s to you. Here’s to making a resolution you can keep. Have a happy and healthy 2015. Happy New Year.