Apparently a recent survey has found that over 60 percent of people in Britain have planned to make a New Year's resolution, with losing weight and taking more exercise being joint top of the list.

Sadly however, stats show that 54 percent will probably have broken their annual pledges by the end of January.

So why do we do it year after year? I’m definitely one of those 40 million or so who have decided that 2011 will see me slimmer and fitter. But to be honest if I’m actually still holding my resolve at the end of January I’ll be absolutely delighted, as my resolutions usually go up in smoke by the end of week one. And talking of which – it was my years of trying to give up smoking for the New Year which were always the most unsuccessful. Every year, within a week or two, some ‘disaster’ had occurred which meant I couldn’t possibly cope without a cigarette (you know something really serious, like stubbing my toe or missing a bus). Interestingly when I did eventually give up three years ago, it wasn’t at New Year, it was in April and without any great resolution. I just decided I didn’t want to do it anymore, and so I stopped.

One New Year bandwagon which I don’t jump on, and to which I have a massive aversion, is the January detox. I can’t stand all those smug people who give up imbibing anything that’s enjoyable in life, and exist purely on water and organic lettuce for the month. Then on 1st February, they’re so desperate to have a blow out that they go to the pub, drink 8 pints of Crusties Old Sproggatt followed by a vindaloo (with a McDonalds chaser), and they’re back into their old habits for the next 11 months. Really, what’s the point?

But what makes us want to make a New Year’s resolution? Is it really a desire for change, is it just to counteract the over indulgence of the Christmas period, or are we giving in to peer pressure to have some kind of personal re-think?

Certainly, the thought of a new calendar year and the possible resolutions one could make gets people thinking, and surely any kind of reflection on your life can’t be a bad thing? The New Year is one of the few times that we are encouraged to do a personal stock-take and think about what we'd like to change.  And weirdly these changes somehow seem easier when everyone’s making them. So apparently, people who have constant intentions to lose weight/ quit smoking/ do more exercise/spend more time with their families (delete as appropriate), are proven to have a better chance when it's in the form of a New Year's resolution.

My problem though is that because we tell everyone what we’re doing, we ramp up the pressure on ourselves to succeed. Everyone constantly asks us how we’re doing? And then when we do make a small slip up the guilt is so enormous that we tend to get all defensive and give up completely rather than just dusting ourselves off and starting all over again.

So, as I say goodbye to 2010, and hello to 2011, will I still make my resolutions? Of course I will. However, I’m not going to be putting ridiculous pressure on myself to succeed in them. I’ll try to lose weight, I’ll try to do more exercise, I’ll try to drink less and I’ll try to see my family more. And you know what, if I do slip up I won’t berate myself and consider myself a failure, I’ll just quietly try again. As they say, if at first you don’t succeed...

NOTE TO SELF: Remember, a New Year's resolution goes in one Year and out the other.