July is the seventh month of the year and is named after Julius Caesar. This month there really is a reason to be happy as International Happiness Day is celebrated. As such I will provide you with some simple tips to help you not only celebrate this day, but to be used at any time. We also have International Joke Day this month, so hopefully this will put a smile on your face. In some parts of the world, Christmas in July is celebrated. As such, I will discuss the …

May is the fifth month of the year and is named after the goddess Maia.
For a month of happiness, we will draw from three events happening in May: World Laughter Day, International No Diet Day and a little known celebration observed in the US, Visit Your Relatives Day. If we take advantage of these events this month, we can make a difference to our overall happiness and wellbeing.
The benefits of laughter
Stress is no laughing matter. When we are stressed, the hormone cortisol enters the bloodstream. If left unmanaged (i.e. you …

April is the fourth month of the year and may have been named after the goddess Aphrodite. Celebrated this month are World Creativity Week, World Health Day and International Dance Day.
This month I will consider how everybody can be creative and how using your creativity skills can be a great mood booster. In recognition of World Health Day, I will provide ideas to help you look after your own mental and physical health. Related to both your creativity and your health, I will encourage you to take advantage of International …

February is the second month of the year and is named after Februa the Roman purification festival. This month celebrates International Friendship Month. Friendships have been shown to be important to our happiness, health and wellbeing, so it makes sense to consider the friends in your life. It is also Random Acts of Kindness Week during this month. Research continues to gather to support the link between kindness and happiness. I also celebrate my birthday this month, and as such I will begin this discussion with a reminder that when …

Thinking back over the past twelve months, what are your top five memories? What were you doing? Who were you with? What makes that moment so special? Based on what you learnt, what do you need to do to ensure more good memories? Struggling to think of five? Then make changes to your life to ensure that in twelve months time you’ll be spoilt for choice.

Having regrets can mean a life of misery. You feel irritated and helpless. If only I had done x. Yet the reality is, what’s done is done and you cannot change the past. So try and spend time thinking about the reasons why it is not worth having regrets. Maybe do some research to discover the impact it can have on your wellbeing. Once you understand that holding on to regrets isn’t healthy, perhaps you can finally overcome yours?

How do you see yourself in time? Do you tend to look to your past, spending time reminiscing? Or do you focus on the present, neither looking to your past or your future. Or are you concerned solely with the future? Ideally, strive for a balance between all three: looking fondly to your past, enjoying your present and being hopeful about the future.

In facing challenges now and in the future, it can be a good move to look to your past. How have you succeeded previously? What actions did you take to guarantee success? Did you receive support in any way? How can the past inspire you to ensure you meet your goals, and overcome potential setbacks?

Try to make up as soon as possible after an argument with a friend, spouse, work colleague, or whoever. Doing so frees you from the anger and resentment which could last years if things are not managed well. If you feel it is appropriate, also apologise. It is not a sign of weakness and you will feel better for it.

Whenever you get an email from a friend in your inbox, don’t read it straight away. Instead, set aside a particular time to read it, when you are free from any distractions. This way you can focus totally on the email, rather than just glancing through it. Savour the words and enjoy the experience.