2009 is a few weeks old.

So… how are you doing on those resolutions?

Let’s face it. Keeping resolutions is hard. But there is a better way!  We here at Home Entertainment have come up with a few self-promises everyone should make, and anyone can keep.

Just follow our lead after the jump…

We resolve to:

Recycle Our Old Electronics

Whether you got, gave, or are planning to purchase something fun to plug in, there’s always an older version needing to be cleared away.

Don’t head for the dumpster! We have some simple ways to make sure that your pre-loved tech finds a new home.

If it is a cell phone or smartphone: Check out sites like Fl!pSwap or Greenphone to sell, trade, or get store credit towards a new phone.

You can even donate your trade income to charity directly through the sites.

If it is a TV: and still functioning, earth911.org will help you to arrange a donation of your gently used and still working TV to a charity that can use it. Or, Sony offers free recycling of any Sony television provided you drop it off.

Go to sonystyle.com for details. Plus, you can always check out the tips that we have provided in our articles on E-Waste and Manufacturers Recycling. For all other small gadgets: For ipods, cameras, printers and the like, there are a few options.

Getting a new iPod? Apple will give you 10% off when you recycle your old iPod at the store at time of purchase.

Need a new camera?

Kodak will purchase your outdated camera, regardless of brand, when you buy a new Kodak from kodak.eztradein.com. Or, get a discount on office supplies: Staples offers a trade-in program on printers, monitors, batteries, toner cartridges and more through their site: staples.greensight.com.

Use Alternative Power Sources:

If you’re feeling some guilt over all the power you suck down with your phone or laptop, we have an answer.

For laptops, Voltaic Systems offer the most elegant solutions we’ve come across.

With generators that produce up to 15 watts, they really pack a punch.

That means you can fully charge your laptop battery on just a day in the sun.

And with a backup storage system, rainy days are a breeze as well.

For smaller electronics, Solio is the way to go.

For an hour in the sun, you get 20 minutes of talk time on a phone, or 50 minutes of music on an mp3 player. Charge it fully, and you can recharge your phone more than twice over, or get 20 hours of iPod music.

And for an extra Karmic boost, Solio offers a buy-one-give-one program that benefits impoverished areas with no access to electricity.

Get it Done Right the First Time:

Admit it: you were considering trying to set up that new home theater yourself.

Tsk, Tsk.

And what happens when your beautiful new HD projector comes crashing down in the middle of movie night?

Don’t risk disaster. Get set up properly with a professional custom installer.

They’ll hook up, calibrate, and plug in every last detail for an optimal experience worthy of your expensive gear.

Find one in your area on our site here.

Still having problems with a new tech toy? Have you sat through every automated menu to no avail?

Learn how to get to a person by checking out dialahuman.com. Their site offers a list of companies and how to navigate the menus so that your journey ends with a real living breathing person.

See how easy keeping resolutions can be when you make the right ones?

So get out there and start making them happen!

Now if only we could find a way to trade in this tummy flab…