Struggling with New Year's resolutions? We can help

Nine ways to boost your willpower, from dodging doughnuts to making the most of mornings

It is tempting, when your shiny New Year's resolutions start to crumble, to tell yourself that self-control simply isn't your strong point. "Oh well," you might say, surrendering to the desire for a large glass of red. "No willpower, that's my problem."

But, according to a body of scientific research, willpower is not a talent that a lucky few are born with. It is a skill to be practised. "Willpower is a dynamic, fluctuating resource," explains Frank Ryan, consultant clinical psychologist and author of Willpower for Dummies. "Our level of willpower fluctuates according to our motivation in any given situation. Everybody can learn to use their willpower more effectively."