NEW YEAR, SAME OLD YOU?

IT’S hard to avoid the New Year promises that we’re all making right now. Dry January, dieting – sugar-free, carb-free, you name it we’re abstaining from it – and my particular favourite, which I saw on social media of course, plans to take a digital detox. Oh the modern irony.

I’m not immune from predictable resolutionmaking. I shall be eating my righteous greens in a vain attempt to flush away the excesses of the last quarter of 2018, as well as doing my best Mr Motivator impression – performing weighted lunges throughout January and attempting to be #strongnotskinny, while refraining from uploading my progress to Instagram because I’m limiting screen time to improve my mental health.

The mantra “New Year, new you” is bandied about at the beginning of every year. Overnight, TV marketing switches from melt-inthe middle salted caramel puddings to home improvement (who buys a new sofa in January?) and holiday advertisements, that serve as a not-so-gentle reminder that all those mince pies and Baileys have left us a little less than “bikini ready”.

Q

I WOULD like a smart coat that I can wear for work but that will work with my jeans at weekends. Nothing heavy, as I already have a parka, and nothing black please.

A

Try taking up a skill such as boxing

THIS zebra zip-up coat from Stradivarius, £49.99, is perfect. It will look great

No wonder January is such a depressing month.

Let’s put things into perspective, exercise should be a part of all our lives for the physical and psychological benefits. This doesn’t mean you have to drop a dress size in four weeks, or have abs like Davina McCall by Easter. Pounding the treadmill for hours on end is boring, so why not learn a new skill like boxing or yoga and get fit at the same time?

Holidays are good for the soul and booking something you can look forward to is great motivation on dark mornings, but they are expensive and that alone can cause stress. Sometimes we just need to remember what a beautiful country we live in, some of the most stunning parts of the world are just a short drive or a train ride away.

One of my personal resolutions is to give my mind a break by reading more actual books, not magazines or scrolling through Instagram (which I love and loathe in equal measure).

I’ve just finished Michelle Obama’s autobiography, Becoming, it was inspirational and uplifting. Just the tonic for January – no gin required. over jeans and smarter work clothes, stradivarius.com

■ Joanne is a stylist and personal shopper with more than 16 years’ experience in the fashion industry. Email: Joannecwatkinson@me.com