It's freezing! Time to think about 2009

Here is the UK it was -3.5 degrees C this morning and whilst that may be relatively warm for some it felt cold to me.

So today has become a day for staying in the warm and planning for 2009. So often that word 'planning' will make people switch off as they think about writing out lots of lists and notes that feel far too much like work.

So today here are some planning alternatives for you to consider as you think about what you want to achieve in the year ahead.

1) Write a list of all the things you would like to do. It's the old school approach but it will work well for some. See if you can get to 100 items, it can be surprisingly difficult.

2) Make a picture board or scrap book of what you want to happen in the next 12 months. Cut pictures from magazines and papers of the places you would like to go or the things you would like to enjoy.

3) Tech Savvy? Make a video of how you would like the year ahead to be. Even if you don't have a video camera many regular point and shoot digital cameras will take video. Mobile phones and web cams can be used as well. Edit with some free software like Windows MovieMaker or similar and create a short video of what you would like to achieve.

4) Make a voice recording on your MP3 player (or use Windows sound recorder) of what you want to be, do and have in 2009. Listen often to remind yourself of the path you want to take.

Use any or all of the techniques above and you are certain to get far more out of this New Year than those in the past.