It’s 2018.

Whether the last 12 months have been fabulous for you, or if you simply want to forget that 2017 was even here, the new year means a fresh start. It’s a way of striking the record clean, to build on existing strengths or improve on existing weaknesses.

If you’re like millions of Americans, you may be starting off 2018 with a new mission, a renewed purpose, a drive.

Data shows that around 1 in 5 Americans make a New Year’s resolution every January. Many people set out to improve their health, find love or try something new in life.

According to the website statisticbrain.com, here were the top 10 New Year’s Resolutions from 2017:

1. Lose weight/eat healthy — 21.4 percent

2. Life/self improvement — 12.3 percent

3. Make better financial decisions — 8.5 percent

4. Quit smoking — 7.1 percent

5. Do more exciting things — 6.3 percent

6. Spend more time with family/close friends — 6.2 percent

7. Work out more often — 5.5 percent

8. Learn something new — 5.3 percent

9. Do more good deeds for others — 5.2 percent

10. Find love — 4.3 percent

Of course, the gap between making a resolution and accomplishing is quite vast.

The same website found that only 9 percent of people who make a resolution felt they were successful in achieving their goals. In fact, 42 percent of respondents said they fail to stick to their guns for longer than a month.

With failure rates so high, is there even a point to making a resolution?

Yes and no.

It is important to always set goals for yourself, be they personal or professional.

They don’t have to be elaborate, either. Sometimes, it’s easier to start small, like walking 30 minutes every other day, rather than committing to something like losing 50 pounds in a month.

While you can make these types of personal promises any time, the turning of the calendar is a symbolic break from the past. If you feel like your past shortcomings are holding you back, perhaps the new year is just the thing you excuse you need to free yourself from your self-imposed shackles.

And if you fall short, don’t sweat it. There’s always next year.

Opinions expressed are those of the editorial board consisting of General Manager Ambrosia Neldon and editors Scott Novak and Ted Yoakum.