This year make it your resolution not to make any resolutions.

We're three full days into the new year now, so how's the whole resolution thing
going? Not well would be my guess; it seldom does.

New Year's resolutions are the trick we play on ourselves every January. They
tend to fall into two broad categories.

The first is vaguely well meaning, we're going to try and be nicer or spend more
time with our friends or family; the second severely self denying, it
usually involves giving up something like booze or bacon sandwiches
that though unhealthy makes us feel good.

One type of resolution is hopelessly woolly, the other glowers over us like an
Old Testament prophet, both are doomed to fail at the first hurdle.

This shouldn't be a surprise, the pressure is too great and the timing
totally wrong. Seriously who would choose to go through the stress of
making a major life change during the grimmest part of the year? In
January there is nothing to look forward to until its time to start
eating Easter eggs, which of course you won't be allowed to do
because you're on a diet.

As an alternative to this annual cycle of unrealistic expectations followed
by failure and crippling guilt I'd like to suggest a few
anti-resolutions.

For a start how about having a sense of proportion, there are very few things
that are as bad when looked back on as they seem at the time.

Being patient with yourself and others is a good idea too, in most
instances we really are trying our best. When things go wrong, as
they almost always do, see above for a suggestion as to the likely
long term consequences.

Most important of all we should remember that life is short and try to use
our time to enjoy the good things whilst ignoring the bad.

The thing about these suggestions is that because they aren't dressed up as
'resolutions' with all the dour certainty of failure the name implies
there is no guilt associated with breaking them, something I do
several times before lunch most days.