New to New Year resolutions

Well, hello 2009! Kids are officially back in school today and I'm officially back in my studio/office. It's a new year and it feels fresh.

I've never been one to make yearly resolutions. This year, however, I'm giving it a try. Not sure why I feel compelled this year, but why not?! If you'd like to share yours, feel free! We can help each other!

• Balance: I'm going to work hard at balancing home with work. Each day, I will consciously "close shop" and not return to work until the next day. I will take one day off a week (a solid day of not working).

• Exercise: I will take time each morning to exercise. I got a stationary bike (yay, Craigslist) and have really enjoyed riding 7 miles each morning. A great feeling when we have 6 inches of snow outside.

• Don't sweat the small stuff: Time is valuable and I'm going to work on not worrying about things that don't really matter. Everything works out in the end and stressing doesn't help. I'm also going to try to actively give away or throw away things that I don't need. Clutter can be a big distraction. If I don't read something right away, I'm not saving it.

There it is. I've put it in writing. We'll see how I do.