THE festive season may be a fading memory and those New Year resolutions no more than a guilty reminder of good intentions for many of us.

But making a real effort to kick-start 2012 can benefit us not only physically but mentally as well.

Christmas is a time to let your hair down and treat yourself. There is nothing wrong with that, but eating and drinking to excess is a recipe for disaster.

Weight gained over the holidays through over-indulgence can be difficult to shift.

And the long nights and lack of daylight at this time of year can leave us feeling tired, sluggish and down in the dumps.

A key way to beat the slump during the dark winter months is physical exercise.

It is a great way to give you a boost and lift your mood as it increases the levels of feel-good endorphins in the body.

Physical exercise also combats depression.

And when it comes to getting active, it really is true that every little helps.

Ideally people should aim to exercise for at least 30 minutes a day five days a week.

But you don’t have to do it all in one go. Short bursts of activity throughout the day still count and add up to the total amount.

It’s probably easier than you think to get some exercise by building it into your daily routine.

Anything that gets your heart rate up and makes you feel warm and slightly out of breath counts.

It could include cycling or walking part – if not all – of your journey to work or getting off the bus one stop before your final destination.

Low-impact exercise such as yoga, stretching or Pilates is great for pregnant women, the elderly, overweight or those prone to joint problems such as arthritis.

Housework is also a good workout. The most demanding activities include vacuuming, mopping, changing the bed linen, cleaning the windows and scrubbing the bath and oven.

And as well as making you feel better, exercise can also reduce stress, build up your immune system, increase your metabolism, help you lose weight and improve your energy levels.

:: Professor Peter Kelly is acting regional director of public health