Did you fall off the new year resolutionary wagon yesterday? If so, you were not alone.

Did you fall off the new year resolutionary wagon yesterday? If so, you were not alone. Apparently, January 10 is the most popular day for thoughts of self-improvement to fall by the wintry wayside. Let's face it: it's not the time of year for salads.

But be cheered by the news that many of our efforts are a waste of time anyway. Last week, scientists warned that products widely promoted to help the body "detox" don't actually work.

The charitable trust Sense About Science reviewed 15 products, from bottled water to face scrub, and found many detox claims were "meaningless".

Anyone worried about the effects of scoffing an overabundance of mince pies and swilling too much Croft Original would get the same benefits from eating healthily and getting plenty of sleep, they said.

The investigation, carried out by research members of the Voice of Young Science network, was part of a campaign to unpick "dodgy" science claims - where companies use phrases that sound scientific but do not actually mean anything.

They sound like a fresh-faced bunch, these young scientists, but nevertheless they challenged the companies behind products such as vitamins, shampoo, detox patches and a body brush on the evidence they had to support the detox claims made.

No two companies used the same definition of detox, defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as the removal of toxic substances or qualities.

The scientists found that, in most cases, producers and retailers had simply renamed processes like cleaning or brushing as detox. Soon cutting your toenails will be billed as a process of supreme purity, shaving your legs will be the means to purge the very soul and a loofah will be an instrument of dermatological wonder, yours for just £29.99 (matching corn-buffer also available).

The people at Sense About Science are keen to reassure us: "Your body is the best detox product you have." Even if it does look a bit like an out-of-date Christmas pudding.

So don't worry.

Definitely don't worry.

Mental health charity Mind last week urged people not to feel obliged to struggle with new year resolutions as they can be bad for your mental health.

The kind people at Mind point out that many new year pledges have a negative focus that leads people to concentrate on perceived imperfections, such as being overweight, creating a negative self-image which can lead to feelings of hopelessness, low self-esteem and mild depression.

Happy new year, indeed.

For others, it's the inability to stick to the diet/jogging/River City abstinence regime that triggers feelings of failure and inadequacy.

Mind believes that, instead of having a January goodness splurge, there are a few simple steps that can be taken throughout the year to boost mental wellbeing. These include being active, as exercise releases endorphins to keep you happy; going green - evidence shows that connecting with nature boosts your mood; and trying something new to keep your mind stimulated and give you confidence in your abilities. Mind suggests taking up a musical instrument or learning a new language, although how bad you'll feel about yourself when it turns out you're a tube with the tuba and can't get your head round irregular French verbs one can only imagine.

There is an alternative approach to January, known as the Auld Claes And Porridge Programme. For this regime you require some vintage garments that have given a little at the seams, thereby providing extra roominess. Then you eat porridge for breakfast, lunch and dinner until you can fit into your usual clothing. Ensure you save some oatmeal for rubbing all over you once your body is fit to be seen in public again. It will come up all shiny ... and you've got plenty of time, since the sun won't shine again until August at the earliest.