Beat the January blues and share your secrets of happiness to win a copy of THE SECRETS OF HAPPINESS by Lucy Diamond plus a SHEER BLISS PAMPER HAMPER!

[UrsulaMumsnet]

Defy Blue Monday by sharing the secrets to your happiness for a chance to win a copy of Lucy Diamond's new novel The Secrets of Happiness plus a fabulous Sheer Bliss Pamper Hamper

What is the secret of happiness? Family? Love? Endless chocolate? Stepsisters Rachel and Becca certainly aren’t experts. They've never been close and seem to live perfectly opposite lives - Rachel has the house, husband and kids, while Becca lurches from one dead-end job and bad date to another. But when Rachel doesn't come home one night, Becca realises that her life isn't as perfect as she'd thought, and when the two stepsisters are thrown together, they discover that happiness, like love, can hide in the least likely of places.

Lucy Diamond is the bestselling author of Summer at Shell Cottage. You can find her on Twitter and Facebook.

This discussion is sponsored by Pan Macmillan and will end on 15 February. We will post the winner on the thread on that date.

Bubble bath and chill out music (Maccabees current album at mo).

I can't believe I'm the first person to mention booze. Gin and tonic, ice and lime, condensation on the outside of the glass. Best served with company / hot bath / cheese straws (chose as appropriate). Ideally poured by someone else - like tea, tastes better when you don't have to make it. And tastes better again if it coincides with sleeping children.

Fleecy pjs and chocolate!

In the Winter months, happiness is coming home, putting on your pjs straightaway, having a bag of salt and vinegar crisps and watching a box set or catching up on the soaps on tv. In the Summer months, happiness is lying on a beach, dozing listening to your children playing (who are obviously being properly supervised by my DH!) and the water lapping against the sand.

Other than the obvious spending time with friends and family, for me happiness is about the small pleasures of life:
a bunch of daffodils
a cup of Earl Grey
a bubble bath
a perfectly ripe mango that I don't have to share with anyone
And books, of course. A life without books would be a very unhappy one for me.

Happiness would be a hot cup of coffee whilst laying in a bath (minus kids) reading a good book :)

If you have to do work/chores, breaking it down into individual tasks with a reward at the end lifts the spirits. If it can be put off without feeling guilty, my favourite thing to do is to curl up with a good book and lots of tea, this is my secret to beating the winter blues.

Don't stress about things that you cannot control, just laugh and pepole will wonder why you are laughing, a good talking point

Happiness to me is the little things in life, such as watching my children interact, or something they have done, or cuddling up with either children or pets on the sofa. A few years ago, I would have said happiness is a walk in the countryside or on the beach with our dogs and the children but, due to chronic degeneration in my back, I am in the process of being measured up for a wheelchair, as I can no longer get about outside of the home by myself. I'd be a liar if I said didn't get fed up and frustrated but, when I look about me, I am thankful to God for all the great things I have in my life, especially compared to others.

Talking is one of the best things to do to help with stress if you can. Its always hard to to find that special someone that you can really trust though. Xx

Be as good,kind and thoughtful as I can be.

play with kids

Don't stress about things that you cannot control, just laugh and peole will wonder why you are laughing, a good talking point

Travelling to different places and meeting different people as it always changes your mind set, however hard done by or tired you feel seeing a child in another country happy with the smallest thing always reminds me how happy an lucky our little family really is :)

Listening to the birds sing, now I have hearing aids.

Enjoying what you have, not stressing about the life you have that hasn't (so far) turned out as you anticipated.. Remembering that jealousy is a pointless emotion and that no one is immune to illness, death and hard times.

If im having an irritable day I go outside at night, take a deep breath, look up at the stars and realise how tiny and insignificant I am. Can give me a bit of a reality check if im being a bit grumbly, plus a lovely distraction as i try to see if i can spot any constellations/venus etc.

Happiness is family, friends, love, weekend lie-ins, unexpected free time, my daughters laugh, my daughters cuddles, my daughter ....my list could go on. I found being happy is focusing on what you have and not comparing your life to others :)

Family and friends who are there for you when you most need them. Yes, chocolate, a great read and a good movie or TV series can help but a good friend or relative can cheer you up more than any material thing.

Making the most of what strengths you have and not comparing yourself to others. I'm a friendly, sociable extrovert, so I like to use those characteristics sharing the happiness of my day with others.

soak in a bubble bath, or sitting in a jacuzzi, or floating in a pool , to me being in water is the only time I am stress-free and happy!

With January cold and miserable I leave the blind drawn as I hate looking at the miserable weather outside.. Heater on, blanket or sleeping bag for legs, Ikea recliner chair, heated microwave bottle, a cup of tea and a crime fiction book! Turn the mobile off and just hope no one knocks at the door!

All the ingredients right there..

Valski

crisp cold blue sky morning and a quiet walk along the beach bliss

Focussing on what I have rather than what others have. Also realising how little most things actually matter in the long run and to just let them go

Having a good run, chocolate, my lovely daughters and husband.