The best way to do any religious obligation or Sunnah is to do like that of our righteous predecessors also known as Salaf.

Abdullah ibn Mas'ud reported: The Prophet SA said, "The best people are those of my generation, then those who come after them, then those who come after them. Then, there will come people after them whose testimony precedes their oaths and their oaths precede their testimony."

(Saheeh Bukhari 6065, Saheeh Muslim 2533)

So, we need to follow their footsteps and observe how they conducted themseves in this month of joy; so that we can prepare and exert ourselves the way they did in order to gain the most of this blessed month.

Their righteous actions in Ramadhan were primarily focused on five major areas:

1. Recitation of Qur'an (تلاوة القرآن)
As we have already discussed extensively, Ramadhan is the month of Qur'an, therefore the Salaf lent an exclusive focus on Qur'an.

It is reported that Al-Aswad [b. Yazīd Al-Nakha'ī] used to complete the recitation of the Quran in Ramadan every two nights; sleeping between al-Maghrib and al-'Isha. Outside of Ramadan, he used to complete a recitation every six nights.
(Abu Nu'aym, Hilyatu Al-Awliya 1:250)

It is related from Al-Rabi b. Sulayman, "Muhammad b. Idris Al-Shafi'i used to complete reciting the Quran in the month of Ramadan sixty times, all in the prayer."
(Abu Nu'aym, Hilyatu Al Awliya 4:107)

It is reported that Abul Ash-hab said, "Abu Al-Rajā' [Al-Atarudī] would complete with us a recitation of the Quran in the night prayers of Ramadan every ten days."
(Abu Nu'aym, Hilyatu Al Awliya 1:348)

It is reported that Qatādah used to complete a recitation of the Quran once every seven nights, and when Ramadan came, once every three nights. During the last ten nights, he would complete a recitation every night.
(Abu Nu'aym, Hilyatu Al Awliya 1:364)

It is reported that Al-Bukhārī used to complete a recitation [of the Quran] once a day in Ramadan, and would pray after Tarāwīh every night, completing another recitation every three nights.

(Al Dhahabī, Siyar A'lam Al Nubalā' 12:439)

2. Night Prayers (قيام الليل)
The Salaf specifically capitalised in this month by praying the night prayers.

Sālim b. 'Ubayd reports, "I used to stay in the house of Abū Bakr. One night, he prayed for as long as Allāh willed him to. He then said [to me], 'Go and see if al-fajr has started,' so I went, returned and said, 'Whiteness has risen in the sky.' So he prayed for as long as Allāh willed, then said [again], 'Go and see if al-fajr has started.' I went out, returned and said, '[The light] is spreading out and becoming reddish,' to which he said, 'Now bring me my drink (i.e. my pre-dawn meal, al-suhoor).'"

(Al-Daraqutni, Al-Sunan 2:166)

3. Charitable Acts (صدقة)
The Salaf were especially generous during Ramadhan, emulating Prophet Muhammad SA.

It is reported that Hammād bin Abi Sulaymān was a wealthy man, he used to provide iftār (meal to end the fast) for five hundred people in Ramadān, and would give each of them one hundred dirham after 'Eid.

It is also reported that he used to provide iftār for fifty poor people a day in Ramadān, and on the eve of 'Eid he would give each of them clothes to wear.
(Al-Dhahabī, Siyar A'lam Al-Nubalā', in his biography of Hammād bin Abī Sulaymān)

4. Not overindulging in food (تقليل من الطعام)
The Salaf, out of piety, were very careful and stringent with regards to food. They never indulged in it unnecessarily, fully aware of the evil that accompanied it.

It is reported that once, some good food was served to Anas [Ibn Mālik] RA and [the person who served the food] was well off enough to afford good food. As he was eating, he kept a morsel of the food in his mouth for a while, then looked at the people and began to cry. Then he said, "By Allāh, I have accompanied people who, if they could get hold of this kind of food, would have fasted even more often, and spent less time not fasting. One of them would find only milk mixed with water [as food], which he would drink and then fast on."
(Al Mu'afa bin 'Imran, Kitab Al Zuhd article 215)

Abu Ja'far, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
إِذَا امْتَلأَ الْبَطْنُ طَغَى الْجَسَدُ

When the belly is full, the body will transgress.
(al-Ju' li-Ibn Abi Dunyā 23)

5. Safeguarding the Tongue (حفظ اللسان)
Knowing quite well the sheer necessity of guarding one's words in Islaam, the Salaf were extra careful with regards to monitoring their tongue in this blessed month.

It is reported that 'Umar RA said:

Fasting does not mean keeping away from only food and drink, it also means keeping away from lying, falsehood, inanity and swearing [by Allāh without need].

It is reported that Mujāhid RA said:

There are two practices, if a person can keep himself from them, his fast will be secured for him: backbiting and lying.

It is related that Abul 'Aliyah RA said:

The fasting person is in a state of worship as long as he does not backbite.
Ibn Abī Al-Shaybah, Al-Musannaf articles 8975, 8980, 8981 and 8982.)

It is reported that Hafsah bint Sirin RA said:

Fasting is a shield as long as one does not tear it, and tearing it is when you backbite. 
(Abd Al Razzaq Al San'ani, Al Musannaf articles 8975)

These five aspects of the deeds of Salaf, if incorporated in our life, will not only enhance our Ramadhan but also truly enable us to enjoy it with joy!