Holly Herzog kicked off 2001 vowing to better her disposition for the new year.

The anthropology sophomore’s intentions were threefold - exercise regularly, stop smoking and be nicer to people.

More than a week into the new millennium, Herzog has yet to master her resolutions.

“So far, things are going pretty good,” she said. “I’ve been being nicer to people - I think.”

Too bad Meatloaf never sang “One Out of Three Ain’t Bad.”

“They’re resolutions in progress,” Herzog assured. “I’ve cut down on cigarettes a little and I plan to exercise (this week).”

And, of course, there is always tomorrow.

Gary Stollak, MSU clinical psychology professor, said he’s a prime example of that outlook.

“I’m 61 years old and I’ve been meaning to go on the same diet for, what seems like, most of that time,” he said. “Every day I wake up intending to start it, but that only lasts to about 8 a.m. I’ll do it tomorrow.”

The never-ending quest for self-improvement is a key component of human nature, Stollak said.

“There’s never been a person in human history who hasn’t, so to speak, gone down to the river to wash away their sins, vowing before Allah, God, Buddha or what have you to make a change,” he said.

“We’ve all heard that Sunday sermon that inspires us to change, but then we go home and watch football only to curse at the referee and call him every name in the book.”

Whether the resolutions are made on New Year’s Day is trivial and irrelevant, Stollak said.

“Ninety-nine point nine-nine percent of people wake up almost every morning saying this day is going to be the first day of the rest of their lives,” he said. “We are always vowing to make tomorrow better than yesterday. But by the end of the day we are back to our same habits.”

That’s why people like English sophomore Mike Toth typically don’t make New Year’s resolutions.

“I know I won’t keep them so why bother,” he said. “Though this year I did make one because I have to keep it. My parents have stopped giving me spending money until I quit smoking.”

Contrary to Stollak and Toth’s view, nutrition science junior Jenni Talbott said making a commitment on the eve of a new year - a new beginning - is a significant step in keeping it.

“It’s a lot easy to do it,” she said. “New Year’s makes you do it because you know everyone else is doing it - trying to overcome their own downfalls.”

Talbott mastered her resolution to run a total of five miles in 2000 by running almost every day and leaving her goal in the dust.

This year she vowed not to eat ice cream and has yet to sink her teeth into the dairy delight.

“It’s my one addiction,” she said. “But if I can make myself run every day, I can do anything.”

If Talbott is able to consciously steer clear of ice cream this year, it will be a feat that interests Stollak and his colleagues.

“The matter of how we make ourselves relearn is one of the most interesting questions in psychology,” he said. “The real question is how do we make ourselves change, instead of going back to the same habits by the end of the day.”

For those who wish to quit smoking, like Herzog and Toth, changing some of their habits and trying nicotine replacements - like a patch or gum - may be the best bet, according to the American Lung Association.

“Just cutting back is probably the worst way to go about it,” said Carol Christner, the association’s director of regional services.

“The best thing to do is figure out when and why you smoke and then change your habits accordingly,” she said.

“For instance, if you normally smoke while driving, find something else to occupy that situation - chew gum or fiddle with the radio - find something that works for you.”

It takes the average smoker six attempts to stop smoking before they succeed, though 70 percent of smokers say they want to quit, according to the lung association.

Christner also recommends that quitters seek support groups to help overcome their addiction.

Officials at MSU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine suggest similar steps for those wishing to shape up and eat better.

“All of these things are easier to say than do,” said William Strampel, senior associate dean of the college.

Strampel recommends setting small and realistic goals and raising them incrementally as each is met. He also suggests finding friends to join the endeavor so that someone is there as a source for constant motivation.

“There is no one right way for everybody, but there are some clues to make things more successful,” Strampel said. “The hardest part about going out walking or jogging is putting your shoes on. We all procrastinate, it’s human nature.”

But as long as there are new days and years, individuals will - at the least - always have good intentions toward self-improvement.

“That’s just fine with me,” Stollak said. “I’d rather live in a society where everyone is eternally optimistic, than one that is forever discouraging.

“Call it foolishness, but the cliché will always be around. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try, try, try, try again.”