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ESCANABA -- Most people around Delta County seem to be tempering their expectations for 2024 and trying to set realistic goals -- if they're making New Year's resolutions at all.
Justin Larson of Rapid River has one, but the timeline he's setting for himself doesn't stretch indefinitely.
"My resolution is gonna be eating healthier and attempting to lose weight before I go to Mexico," he said. The trip begins at the end of March, "which isn't a lot of time, but at least I can make it a year-end goal if nothing else," Larson added, laughing.
It's well-known that weight loss and improved health are common New Year's goals.
"I think I'm going to try again with the same one (as last year), and that is to lose weight," said Katy Bunch of Escanaba. "I'm going to try to do better with the type of drinks I have when it comes to like, pops I drink, and I'm really going to try and get better and more consistent with the days that I go to the gym and how long I'm there for."
Ava Boucher of Gladstone said that she's already begun taking steps to eat cleaner and hopes to continue on that path in the new year.
"I need to get healthier. Life is passing me by too fast, and I'm only 19," she said. "And one thing you can't get back is your health. You only get one body, one set of teeth, all that."
Chloe Swanson of Gladstone said she'd like to eat healthier and stop going out for fast food, but didn't seem too excited or optimistic about trying to meet a health goal.
"I'm really bad at that," she said, adding that she's tried without success to make resolutions in the past. However, there is another achievement she has her eye on.
"I'm in school right now, so I'm trying to finish on time," said Swanson. "My goal's by the end of 2024."
Nicole Rossell of Escanaba pointed out that gyms are going to be crowded come January, so while she intends to continue working out, she acknowledged that it will be a challenge to find the right time.
"My only yearly resolution is to read more books than the previous year," Rossell said. This year, she's completed 51 so far - but intends to finish the one she's currently reading, meaning that her goal for 2024 would be 53 books or more.
There are a range of difficulties when it comes to the levels people set their sights on. Usually the aim is to better one's self - a goal that in and of itself is undefined. There are ways to work towards vague betterment that don't take up much time, and they don't need to be chores.
Cory Boye of Escanaba said he will resolve to "stop helping people that don't want to help themselves."
Setting boundaries like Boye's or simply aiming to do things that don't bring misery may help make for a pleasant 2024.
"I've discovered about myself that I'm pretty bad at sticking to (New Year's resolutions)," said Joshua Fayer of Parlin, N.J., who was visiting the Upper Peninsula for the holidays. "So I've decided that I'm just gonna kind of take things as they are. And you know, if I set a new year's resolution to exercise more or something like that, I tend to do it for about 10 days and then give it up afterwards."
As an afterthought, Fayer added, "I think, probably, a resolution might just be to get outside more and enjoy nature. I think that's an easy one to enjoy doing."
Some - like Tre Ballo of Escanaba, who said she's "just hoping for a better year" - aren't intending to make resolutions.
"I know I'll never follow them," said Justin Corwin of Escanaba. "I have tried in the past and never succeeded."
Other community members who said they're refraining from setting goals for the new year are John and Barb Roberts, Doreen Jordan, Mike Satten and more.
Similarly to Ballo, Lucas Derouin of Bark River casually said that he'd like the new year to be better than the last one - but that doesn't mean he's a cynic when it comes to resolutions.
"I did one with chewing tobacco, and I made it," said Derouin. "I'm on the fourth year."
Goals for mental health in addition to physical health are on people's lists. There are many ways to improve well-being.
"It's kind of general - I want to be more intentional with my time, especially my free time," said Nick Levy of Rockville, Md., who was in Escanaba to see his partner's family. "Instead of maybe pulling out my phone and scrolling or something, you know, maybe read a book or exercise or do something a little more -- in the moment."