I'm not one for formal new year's resolutions, but this year, all things considered, I'm keeping it to five.

I recently read about the five precepts of Buddhism, which in their basic form are more like "thou shalt nots" than anything else. (There are more than five precepts, but I understand ordinary people usually start with these.)

Yoga Journal has more user-friendly interpretations, which basically boil down to:

"Do no harm to anyone; Take nothing that is not freely given; Speak truthfully and helpfully; Use sexual energy wisely; and Keep your mind clear."

Previous years' resolutions have been more banal, such as "eat less chocolate" (this one was short-lived) and "read magazines more efficiently" (this one sort of worked) and "get a handle on my finances" (year five for this one).

This year, the emphasis is more on daily life and dealing with others. I'm looking for better ways to deal with stress and anger, more constructively than my usual approach, which often consists of steaming at my desk and randomly throwing pencils. I need to be able to deal with these emotions more sanely, instead of carrying them around with me like some horrible piece of luggage. I'm hoping these five will help.

As for the rest: maybe I need to eat more chocolate.