Happiness is not a destination; it’s a way of life. I read this on a sign at concept store Sluiz on Ibiza. Now I’m not a fan of printed signs but this one got me thinking.

Happiness is not about a state of being. I know lots of people who have good reason to go through life complaining who are still a lot more fun to be with than some grumblers that have everything going for them.  It’s all in the mind. Did you know happy people are better at their job? They don’t waste time moaning and groaning. So here are five ways for you to become happier.

This is very important for your state of mind and your mood. Sleep is great for your skin by the way; no cream can compete with it. So tonight draw yourself a long hot bath or take a long shower and take a cuppa tea to bed. Maybe watch some TV and then its night, night.

If you take care of yourself you’ll feel good all day. No one will see your cute polished toenails but you’ll know and this will make you walk sassier and sit prettier. Same goes for underwear. Put on a nice set. It doesn’t have to be matchy matchy, simply a pair of leopard skin panties and a black bra will make you feel attractive, strong and happy.

Stand still to think about what’s going well in your life instead of what’s going wrong. Cherish your loved one; call your mother to thank her for babysitting and clearing away your Mount Everest of laundry. What also works is taking down happy points. I did this when working a job with many setbacks. Instead of concentrating on the thousands of things that went wrong I wrote down what I did get done. This was really motivating.

I know how good it can feel to get together with someone you like and love to rat about a person you both dislike. Still your happy meter will go higher if you discuss something nice. Gossip has a negative energy to it and most likely you will interpret what this person says to you in a negative way. Remember this:  Small minds discuss people, big minds discuss ideas. And if you do have a gossip itch talk about Kim and Kanye or other celebs. This doesn’t count and feels just as good.

Receiving is nice but giving is better. Pour a cup of tea, take something yummy to the office, give a colleague who is undertaking something cool a present to congratulate her. A pretty handwritten card to go with it and everybody’s happy. She is and you are. And if they’re lucky a content feeling of happiness doesn’t only reward those who give, they get warmth as well.