Those who did it, I commend you. However, I bet you were hanging on by the skin of your teeth.

A typical January day for me begins at 3am. My first thoughts as I try to open my eyes are holidays – beaches, villas, tours, hot tubs.

I drag my weary legs out of bed and walk downstairs to be greeted by a very tired dog. The kettle goes on and I make myself a nice strong cup of coffee – black coffee.

Then I reach for my laptop, which is every bit as tired as I am – and a little bit battered. It’s January though, and I don’t have time to go and get a new one.

I scour the internet for deals I think our clients would love. Only things I would buy. I look through Jet2, Thomas Cook, Tui and Hoseasons, among others. I have no loyalty to anyone but my beloved customers.

Deal after deal goes on Facebook and coffee after coffee usually goes down my pyjamas – multi-tasking while having shaky hands is not my strong point.

In the blink of an eye, it’s suddenly 7.30am. I haul myself off the couch and go upstairs again to try to put on my warpaint ready for work.

When I arrive at our Easington Colliery branch, it’s freezing. All the heating is put on ready for my girls arriving at 8.45am. The kettle goes on again for about the 20th time this morning.

As I get to work, I receive a call from the ex who is taking my son to school to say I’ve put in two shoes with left feet and can I meet him at the school. My answer: “Are you mad? It’s January!”
I seem to find myself saying this to more and more people as the month goes on.

I put the shoe situation out of my mind and head into my office, sit down and analyse the girls’ figures for the month. There is no better feeling than seeing who is top of the shops, especially after opening our third branch only eight weeks ago.

When I discover one of their girls has achieved their target already, I am suddenly wide awake and very excited for them all to come in. My team talk is ready to gee them up for a another busy week – it is peaks, after all.

As they all roll in ready for a busy Monday, I stand at the front of the shop ready to talk to them but the phones are already ringing off the hook. We’re quickly joined by two sets of customers.

I give up and sit down. I’ll speak to them all individually. I call through to my other shops to say good morning. As I’m calling, I think to myself: “What is that rumbling?”

I realise it’s my tummy, as my body already thinks it’s way past lunch time. That will have to wait. Eating is for the weak this month.

So ask me again, am I doing dry January? Don’t make me laugh.