It's a couple of days in, but we want to wish you a Happy New Year.  A really and truly happy 2013.  Our focus this week is really on wellbeing for 2013 - so we thought share a very popular section from our book, The Anti-Ageing Beauty Bible, the seventh book in the series. There are lots of strategies we've identified, over the years, which work to make people happier on a daily basis.  Simple, easy-to-follow nuggets which really make a difference - as we've found ourselves, and as our friends and readers have confirmed.  Even though we know them ourselves, they bear repeating from time to time, to get ourselves back on track mentally and emotionally.

So do try these.  And let us know if they make a difference to you, too, won't you...?

• Be loving to yourself. Relying on others for your self-esteem and making decisions based on other people rather than what you really want can cause grief all round. Tell yourself you are a good person, not perfect – no one is – but you try your best. Then give yourself permission to get things wrong, acknowledge it and move on.

• Count your blessings before bed. Think of three nice things that happened today. They can be as simple as seeing the sun rise, receiving or giving praise at work, or a great cup of coffee. You will sleep sweetly.

• Don’t ponder problems or make decisions in the middle of the night. Your brain can’t process things then. Write a reminder for the morning, then do this breathing exercise:  Inhale for a count of four, hold for seven, then exhale very slowly to a count of eight. Repeat four to six times, feeling your breath going in and out of your body.

• When you wake, decide that just for today you’ll be as happy as you can. Whatever happens. This doesn’t mean you won’t notice difficulties but that you’ll live in the solution, not the problem.

• Never lose hope. If it seems to be slipping away, phone a supportive friend and share the problem. But don’t dwell on it afterwards.

• Make things fun. Wear bright colours, put on make-up, do your hair, play music during tedious chores, reward yourself with flowers or a movie.

• Examine any wobbles. If you have done something wrong, put it right. Take a few drops of Bach Rescue Remedy and count up the positive things in anysituation. If the wobbliness persists, consider talking therapy or homeopathy.

• Reach out to other people. Be nice, pay compliments. Listen, really listen.

• Cultivate peace. Ask yourself what makes you feel peaceful and do more of it. Remember: it may be a case of ‘being’ rather than 'doing'.