Top tips for sticking to resolutions

Do it daily Whatever you’re hoping to change, do it daily. Author and blogger Leo Babauta believes, from experience, that “nothing will change unless you make a daily change”. Psychologist Beverley Stone believes it doesn’t matter if you aren’t doing it perfectly to begin with, it’s doing it at all that matters.

Replace bad with good Charles Duhigg, author of The Power of Habit (Random House Books, £8.99), suggests replacing a bad habit with a good one. For example, smokers often find that it’s not the smoking they enjoy as much as the break in routine or the chance to socialise – so taking a few minutes to relax may offer the same joy as smoking.

Get some support Some people find that telling people what they are trying to change will motivate them, whereas others find that friends and family creates too much pressure. Only tell people if you think it will work for you.

Stay motivated Keep a record of how you are doing. The average length of time taken to create a habit is 66 days but it varies largely between individuals, and can take a year or more.  Don’t become disheartened if you don’t have immediate success. If you keep a record of your success, you can look at it when you lose motivation so see how far you have come.