Lifestyle: Not so resolute resolutions

More than half of New Year resolutions will be broken within two weeks, a survey claims. Despite people's best intentions, 46 per cent of those who make a vow on 1 January will only keep it for up to one week, and 17 per cent will keep it for less than a day.

By the end of the second week in January, 54 per cent of resolutions will have been broken, according to the survey by NOP Solutions for Barclays Bank which found that 36 per cent of Britons make a resolution.

More than one fifth (22 per cent) of resolutions are vows to stub out the smoking habit. Next comes promises of a healthier lifestyle with more exercise and better diet, followed by pledges to save more money and keep finances in check over the coming year. However, only one in 10 people actually believe they will be able to keep their promise for the entire year.