If green gifts were on your holiday gift list, green deeds must be in your New Years' resolution list!

Lots of people are making 2008 the year to go green. Case in point: Eco-home website Low Impact Living ran a Green New Year's Resolution contest that invited all to submit a resolution for a chance to win a green goodie bag. Over 400 people submitted, and one Shannon from St. Paul, Minnesota won for resolving to "bike to and from work (13 miles each way) at least twice a week ALL year," among other things.

You can check out the many resolutions people entered for Low Impact Living's contest to get ideas for your own. If you're really up for a challenge though, get hardcore and use the year to completely transform your life, green style. For inspiration, check out The Compact (no new stuff for a year), No Impact Man (no negative impact on the earth for a year), Envirowoman (no plastic for a year).

My eco-resolution's much more humble: To do at least 1 DIY project a month that let me recycle things I don't need into something useful. Earlier this month, I turned an old calendar and old photos into holiday decorations -- and not only did I end up with cute stuff as a result, but I also realized I really enjoy the process of crafting.

The key, I think, is to pick a resolution that excites you, whether it's because you'll simply enjoy the green act you undertake (raking leaves can actually be fun, while few leaf blowers seem to enjoy themselves) or it's because you're inspired by the idea of undertaking a huge challenge.

What's your New Years' eco-resolution? Share in the comments :) And just for fun, if you've wondered why people set resolutions at the New Year, Freakonomics guest blogger Justin Wolfers has 7 reasons why, ranging from "cheap talk" to "intertemporal reallocation." Where do yours fit in?

Photo by Jill_Ann via Flickr

BlogHer Contributing Editor Siel also blogs for the Los Angeles Times at Emerald City, and at greenLAgirl.com.