Practice Gratitude to get healthier!

In the month of November, we tend to think about what we’re thankful for especially as we get close to Thanksgiving. We recently found out that the entire month of November is National Gratitude Month established in 2015 by Stacey Grewal. The premise is easy and the science backs it; gratitude is an essential ingredient to a happy life.

Gratitude has been shown to have a positive influence on your psychological health, physical capabilities, and personal well-being. People who practice gratitude can use it to help them deal with their stressful, chaotic lives. In turn, they tend to sleep better, have lower stress levels, exercise more often, and eat healthier. This gives us a deep feeling of satisfaction that fulfills and nourishes us.

When practicing gratitude, you focus on the positive aspects of what is happening in your life. This isn’t to say you ignore the bad things that happen, they need to be handled. But in this case, you don’t stay focused on them. Instead, you train your brain to think about the things you are grateful for, the positive parts of your day. Odds are you will find things that you are thankful for you that you might have otherwise taken for granted.

Gratitude Month Activities:

• Gratitude journal – this is one of the easiest ways to practice gratitude. List the things for which you are thankful each day/couple days a week. Whatever works for you and your schedule. You can list one new thing each day or list all of the things every day. Make it into what works for you.
• Spread gratitude – make sure that the people around you know how much you appreciate them. A quick note or phone call, take them out to dinner, or a big hug depending on who it is in your life.
• Give back to the community – helping those less fortunate not only helps them but fills you with gratitude.