Gratitude is a powerful emotion that can improve your life in a variety of ways. When you are grateful, it is difficult to feel depressed or sorry for yourself. In this article, we shall discuss the means to make gratitude a daily habit.
According to Emmons and McCullough’s research, keeping a gratitude journal – a simple notebook where you write down daily what you are grateful for, has numerous benefits. The study found that people who kept a journal exercised more frequently reported fewer physical symptoms, felt better about their lives, and were more optimistic. It also revealed that people who kept a journal were likelier to achieve their goals.
In comparison to the control group, there was a greater sense of connectedness to others, a more optimistic outlook on life, and better sleep quality.
Here Are Means To Make Gratitude A Daily Habit
There are lots of ways to practice gratitude! You can keep a gratitude journal and reflect on your own, you can call up a friend and let them know how much you appreciate them, or you can celebrate the people in your life with a small token of appreciation. To help you get started with practicing gratitude, we have listed a few different ways you can practice gratitude by yourself, with your significant other, and with friends and family. Take a look and see what ideas you can take away to start practicing gratitude!
Ways To Practice Gratitude On Your Own
Practicing gratitude by yourself is a great way to start recognizing the positive things in your life. You can solely focus on the gratitude you want to recognize without distractions from others.
- Keep a gratitude journal. If pen and paper isn’t your thing, set aside some time in the day to reflect in your mind on the great things that happened.
- Take time to appreciate nature and all of the little things you may usually miss when you’re outside.
- Think about what lessons you can take away from stressful situations instead of solely focusing on your stress.
- Create a gratitude collage with pictures of people, places, and things you’re grateful to have in your life.
- Write a positive review for a business that recently gave you a great experience.
- Challenge yourself to minimize or completely diminish complaining and criticizing for a short period and reflect on how much energy you put towards these feelings.
- Identify at least one positive thing that you appreciate or can learn when you’re faced with a seemingly bad situation.
- Write thank you notes whenever possible.
- Pick up a hobby you’ve been meaning to try. Making yourself happier can help you feel more grateful.
- Meditate on things you’re grateful to have in your life.
- Think about something or someone you’re thankful for right when you wake up.
- Reflect on the people or things you’re thankful for at work while you’re getting ready to go home. Keep a gratitude list at work you can use to reflect.
- Post on social media about something you’re #grateful for.
- Refrain from gossiping or speaking negatively about other people.
- Set a reminder for yourself on your phone to pause and think of something you’re grateful for at that moment.
- Take time to think about all of the people that made your meal possible the next time you cook or sit down to eat.
- Think of a positive thought whenever a negative thought pops up in your mind.
- Keep a simple gratitude list and add to it every day.
Ways to Practice Gratitude With Your Significant Other
You and your significant other likely do lots of things together to make each other’s lives better. Practicing gratitude with your partner can be a fun and meaningful experience you can use to inspire a weekly date night or daily ritual for the two of you. Research finds that couples who express gratitude are more forgiving and have stronger overall relationships.
Now go out and have a day of gratitude today and every day! Life feels so much better (and goes so much better) when you are in a state of appreciation.
I hope you find this article helpful as well as interesting.
