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.

Have you reflected on your achievements lately? Both large and small. Begin by reflecting back over your life on the significant things you have done. From there, continue to build on your list, by making a note each month of the things you have achieved. Even better, add to it as they happen. This way you don’t forget and will realize how much you do accomplish.

Think about the next seven days. What are you looking forward to on each day? Ideally, think of something different for each day, therefore making each day distinct from the others. From doing this exercise, hopefully you will realize how much you have to look forward to – whether the day is Tuesday or Saturday.

For any topic, viewpoint or feeling, there is probably a quotation that sums it up. Do you have a favourite quote that speaks personally to you? If not, seek yours out and use those words to remind you of what you want to become, or how you want to live your life. Feeling creative? Compose your own.

Imagine the perfect you. I mean this in terms of personal characteristics and attributes, not physical aspects. How would you be? How would you relate to others, respond to difficulties, go about your everyday life? Now how close are you to this perfect image? Are there any steps you can take to become the perfect you?

As you read all the tips, ideas and research findings that promote ways to increase your happiness, try to think how it will work for you personally. Circumstances can be a factor, but also consider your personality, strengths and goals in deciding ways you are going to increase your happiness. Adapt what you read about happiness to suit you.

Take the time to appreciate the qualities of others. It’s very easy to think highly of those characteristics that we ourselves possess and we go on to evaluate other people accordingly.  So if you can, take a moment to observe someone you easily criticise and notice the good things they offer and the strengths they display.

If you met yourself, would you like you? Give this some thought and try to be honest.  Are there any habits, behaviours or characteristics that you have which you know you would find irritating if you had to spend time with you? What changes could you make so that you and yourself can happily spend time on a desert island together?

Want to learn more about yourself as well as the world around you? Then give something new a go. It doesn’t have to be big – maybe a different flavour of cordial instead of what you usually do. Or it could be a whole new experience – perhaps getting hold of a bike and cycling to work.

When was the last time you did something meaningful? Think back to yesterday. Can you derive meaning and purpose from the tasks you did? They do not have to be life changing, just worth doing. Such reflections give you a chance to think about how well you used your day. Hopefully you will recognise that procrastination is not the way to a meaningful life.