I really like writing down plans, goals, to-dos. I’m pretty fanatical about it, actually. I have a special notebook where I write down the BIG plans and BIG goals. I have a different notebook where I keep track of my daily to-dos. In yet another notebook I write about things I’ve tried to do and not accomplished and try to figure out why. I told you I take this too seriously.

I make a lot of goals and plans around New Year’s. I like a fresh start and my birthday also happens to be around this time, so it’s a good reason to think about what I want to accomplish during the next year. But you know as well as I do that New Year’s resolutions can work in two ways: If you get them accomplished, you feel great, if you see a bunch of things on your list from last year that are still just resolutions and not reality, it doesn’t feel so good. The other night I took a look at some of my New Year’s resolution from last year and while I did get to a few — going for a walk every day (almost), drinking more water (done), remembering friends’ birthdays (did OK here) — there were too many on the list that were untouched — meditate regularly, learn about wine, read more books, and many, too many more.

So this year I’m trying to hold myself back from making New Year’s resolutions. It’s not as easy as it sounds, at least not for the fanatical goal-maker like me. But I want to try something different: I want to commit to making one small change or accomplishing one small goal during each month of 2008.

Now you’re all sitting there saying wait, this is just like making resolutions and maybe you’re right. But it feels different to me. I’m going to emphasize them being very small and only focusing on one during each month of the year. If I get it done, great, if not, I move on next month.

I was inspired to do this by a few things — an article I read about different types of small health resolutions, a discussion here at Work It, Mom!, and the general idea that making very small changes is easier and more realistic than big ones.

I thought a few of you might want to join me in this modified resolution making and achieving so I created a group here at Work It, Mom! that invite you to join. If we all share our small monthly goals with each other I think we’ll more more inspired to get them accomplished. I hope you’ll join me - January is just around the corner!

What about you? Do you make New Year’s resolutions? Why or why not? Share your thoughts in the comments!