Its that time of year again when we look to the New Year to focus on those "New Year’s resolutions" You know the ones that start off strong week one through three but them loose steam by the fourth week.

What are your New Year’s resolutions and more importantly how will you keep them in 2008? That said, in case you’re looking for some good ideas of things to do starting in 2008, here are a few suggestions:

1. Write it down and share with a friend - Its great to have New Years’s resolutions but if you put it in writing and work with a partner you increase your chances of reaching them. A study was done with a group of Harvard students who were asked to share their goals. Several years later the 3% of the students in the group who put their goals in writing actually reached their goals.

Peggy Baggott, a partner with TouchPointe, and I meet monthly to go over our goals for the following month, quarter and year every month. We cover 5 areas – family, spiritual, business, personal, and physical. What will we do this month to get us closer to our overall goal? You must write it down and share it with another person.

2. Make up with a friend or loved one - Sometimes we do things inadvertently or even deliberately in the heat of the moment to hurt someone close to us. Or maybe this person did something that hurt our feelings.

Take the high road and reach out to that person. Jim Schmitt, Editor of the LaderaTimes shares, "Apologize if you committed the offense, or put it behind you if it was the other person’s fault. Kiss, hug, cry, and tell them you love them. It’ll make your day . . . I promise!"

3. Give something back - Donate some time to a worthwhile charity. Cash donations are always appreciated but providing your expertise or simply your hands-on contribution can be just as valuable.

There are a gazillion charities that come to fruition every holiday season, such as Toys for Tots, but the work and planning for next December’s activities are already underway. Volunteer now to put your valuable talents to work helping others.

4. Say NO - Claire Shepard, owner of Infusion Restaurant, plans on not over committing herself in 2008. When you say "yes" to something you say "no" to something else. Are you able to commit the time without taking away from one of the personal goals you have set. Are you focused on what matters most or getting caught in the fury of not being able to give a no?

Hang up your Superman cape or your Wonder Woman lasso immediately. Understand that your need to look so capable in other people’s eyes and to continually be praised for your hard work is a desire you can fill in other ways without running yourself ragged.

Make a New Year’s resolution to practice saying "no" gracefully and stop volunteering to take on more work. In fact, you might even reconsider a commitment and offer to help find your replacement.

5. Save the planet - Install fluorescent lights, throughout the house. Carpool or ride the Metrolink to work. Drive less and walk more. Turn the thermostat down or up a couple of degrees, depending on the season. Use the pump instead of aerosols. Make a real effort to put the right stuff in the recycling bin.

6. Loose weight sensibly - 5lbs, 10lbs, 20lbs….Losing weight statistically is the Number One New Year’s resolution. It seems to find a place on everyone’s list.

The one key point to remember is to pace yourself. I have made the mistake far too many times of jumping in full steam ahead and tiring half way through the month of January.

Are you setting a smart goal – specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time bound?

7. Break a bad habit - Stop smoking, drink less, get more sleep…of course all the things our moms told us to watch out for!

8. Save more money - I always think of what my Dad says . . . It’s not how much you make its how much you save! Oh, how that saying rings true right now! Do you have a budget for 2008?

9. Spend less time worrying - Worrying is a huge time waster. Asking yourself "what if" questions about things that will probably never come to pass can drain your energy, keep you up at night, have you thinking of solutions, and simply take a toll on you.

If you know you have a pattern of worrying, try writing down the next thing you find yourself worrying about and then see if it happens. Most times it won’t, and when you see that on paper, it can be easier to change your worry habit.

10. Just do it - Sign up for that class, make that phone call; whatever it is, just do it. Amazingly, once you do, the time finds itself. Take action today Stop coming up with excuses about how you don’t have time. Either you want to do it and you’ll make the time or not.