THE turkey’s all gone, you’ve worked your way through your new sock and Chocolate Orange supplies, and it’s nearly time to go back to work.

And if you’re anything like me, the last thing you’ll feel like doing right now is sticking to a set of brand new self-imposed rules.

New Year resolutions — the quickest way to make yourself feel like a bit fat failure.

Your New Year resolution could be anything from emigrating to stopping biting your fingernails, but they all have one thing in common, and that is that they’re all a pain in the backside.

I’ve never liked this idea of constant improvement.

What’s wrong with just sticking to how you were last year?

The main reason New Year resolutions have never appealed to me, though, is because I can never come up with anything more imaginative than losing weight.

It might come in different guises from year to year: no chocolate for a month; go to the gym three times a week; etc, but as tragic as it sounds, my aspirations in January rarely get past the notion of losing 7lbs for summer.

I suppose it’s quite embarrassing that all thoughts of self-improvement, finding new interests, expanding my mind or helping others, get pushed to one side for my singular desire to get back into my Topshop size 10 jeans.

And even sadder is the fact that even before I set off on my voyage of low-fat punishment and celebrity weight loss DVDs I know I’m on to a loser.

Because, let’s face it, what really is the point in trying to dramatically alter your life at a time when it’s enough of a challenge dragging yourself out of bed in the cold, dark morning? It’s just too much to ask a sensible person.

In January all any sane person wants to do is get home from work and snuggle up on the sofa watching TV.

Healthy food doesn’t taste right when it’s cold outside.

You need carbs and duvets, not salad and running machines.

The fact that we haven’t had a summer for the last 50 years (or does it just feel like it? ) doesn’t help either. Where’s the incentive to look thin when you know you probably won’t even take your coat off in July?

But thankfully not everyone is so easily put off.

If you’re more dedicated than me, and are determined to stick to your resolutions, I salute you, and sincerely wish you all the best.

But if you’re a bit lazy and a bit cynical about New Year resolutions, don’t beat yourself up.

If you have to do something why not resolve to give yourself a break this year?

After all, there’s plenty of time to become a better person.