I like New Year’s resolutions. I like anything that provides me the opportunity to reflect on my life, identify areas for improvement and make plans for change. I also like challenges and of course New Year’s resolutions are just that, and like all challenges, whilst they should be tough they should also be achievable, if thought through carefully. Of course, I am aware that by the time you read this article you may well have busted your New Year’s resolutions already. If so, don’t panic, read on. This article may encourage you to have another go, right now. If you don’t do New Year’s resolutions, this piece might entice you to do so and if you’re a few days into packing in the fags hopefully this will give you succour in the face of adversity.

Janus, the two-faced god
But first a bit of history and as often, let’s return to good old Ancient Rome. The month of January is named after Janus who in Roman mythology was the god of gates, doors, doorways, beginnings and endings. With two faces, Janus could look back on past events and forward to the future. Janus became the ancient symbol for resolutions and many Romans looked for forgiveness from their enemies and also exchanged gifts before the beginning of each year. Thus, Janus and the end of the Roman year became an opportunity to put things right. So, as with many ancient traditions there is also a sound human logic in the making of New Year’s resolutions, as relevant today as 2000 years ago, and there exists a practicality in what seems to be at first glance mythical, symbolic stuff and nonsense.

The Psychology of New Year’s Resolutions
Did you know the first mass–participation experiment about what makes a New Year–s resolution successful or otherwise has been taking place throughout 2007 by psychologists trying to identify the best, and worst, techniques for motivating people to change their lives for the better? Richard Wiseman, a professor of psychology at Hertfordshire University, has sought to enlist around 10,000 people in the online experiment and at regular intervals throughout the year those who signed up for the experiment were invited to give updates on how well they were doing. “We know millions of people around the world will be trying to keep to new year’s resolutions, but we don’t have a clue what is the best advice to give them to succeed,” said Professor Wiseman. “We want to find out what’s the best way to go about it.“ When I asked Professor Wiseman about the results, he promised me they would be available in the New Year. I’ll hold him to that resolution.

Sacrifices and Benefits
Let’s face it, resolutions usually involve the sacrifice of something we enjoy but that may not be good for us, and it is the fear of these painful or difficult actions that often lead us to failure. So how do we make this sacrifice as painless as possible? Experts have identified a number of tips to help keep resolutions. The first is to make only one resolution: if you are an overweight, grumpy, boozy smoker, Prof Wiseman recommends picking just one aspect of life to improve, to increase your chances of success. Here are a few other tips...

My resolution
I’m going to try to take my own advice and go for just one resolution this year. I am going to exercise more. I actually enjoy exercise so there will be little real sacrifice other an hour or so less in my pit each morning. I aim to start with a brisk 45–minute walk for the first month and take it from there. Being diabetic, I will be able to record my achievements by an associated lowering of my blood sugar levels and by a loss of weight. I will reward myself at the end of January by going for a nice family meal. It’s as simple as that!

C’mon then, I challenge you. What are you going to do?