Year of the Rooster: what Rooster people are like

The Rooster is the tenth animal of the cycle, the early riser who greets the day. People born in its year are often bright and wide awake. They like things done well and aren't shy about saying so. Ask a Rooster for honest feedback and you'll get it, given with real care.

Born in January or early February? Check the Lunar New Year date for your year.

What Rooster people are like

Rooster people tend to be observant, hardworking and honest. They notice details others miss and enjoy looking their best. Your birth year sketches a few tendencies, and the rest of the picture is yours.

• Observant. Roosters spot the typo, the crooked frame, the friend who seems a little quiet today.
• Hardworking. They take pride in a job done properly.
• Honest. Roosters tend to say what they think, which makes their praise mean a lot.
• Stylish. Many Roosters enjoy a good outfit and a little sparkle.

High standards can turn inward. Roosters do well to be as gentle with themselves as they are with the people they love.

Good company

The Ox and the Snake are the Rooster's trio partners. The Ox shares its work ethic, and the Snake its careful, thoughtful style. The Dragon is often named the Rooster's secret friend; both enjoy a bit of shine and admire it in each other.

People born in any two years can get on well, of course. The pairings are just something fun to talk about.

A small thing to try this week

Each evening this week, write down one thing you did well, however small. Roosters are good at spotting what could be better, and this is practice at spotting what's already good. By the weekend you'll have a short list of wins that are entirely yours. Read it back slowly.

In Slipmatic

Press the button on the Robo-Booth ’84 and it prints a slip on how your Chinese year sits with today. With Slipmatic Plus, a fresh slip for the Rooster is waiting every morning.

For entertainment and reflection.