So, lose two stone and the muffin top around my middle. Get fit and survive “Only the Brave” – a five-mile run with 20 obstacles thrown in for good measure.

Spring-clean my cupboards, house and finances. Be a better wife, mother, daughter and friend. Read more books, be more organised and become a much more patient, kind, lovely and charitable person.

Yep you guessed it, these are resolutions I have made in some shape or form and have broken by day three and discarded by day seven.

I’m not alone – fewer than a quarter of us will keep our resolutions, which makes me wonder why we bother? I believe it has something to do with the optimism of a fresh start. Goodbye and “let’s forget about it” to the past years mistakes and hello to the new improved us!

I think a lot of us fail because we put too much pressure on ourselves; we set goals because we think we “should” or “ought to”; but we need to cut ourselves some slack and not give up at the first sign of failure. I’ve always taken the “all or nothing” approach to resolutions and therefore give up at the first bite of chocolate cake, a missed gym class or a small glass of wine.

So, I’m going to stop beating myself up and just try my best.  When all is said and done, we know a new year’s resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other…

Happy New Year!