Gratitude is a valuable tool that can easily be incorporated into your everyday life. And it comes with a multitude of benefits as well: increased happiness and psychological well being, improved self-esteem and relationships, and alleviation of stress, anxiety, and depression. It’s easy to see why it’s worth it to maintain an attitude of gratitude, but how exactly does one do so? Read our five tips below!
Set a reminder until it becomes a habit.
Just like all other habits, consistency is necessary if you want gratitude to eventually become second nature. You might want to write “Be grateful” on a sticky note and put it somewhere you’ll see it frequently, or you could even set a reminder on your phone which will go off and remind you to think about the things you’re grateful for. Remember that it’s not necessary to have huge, amazing things to be grateful for each day. Instead, you can be grateful for life’s simple pleasures, like the beauty of the wind blowing through the trees or the opportunity to enjoy a few quiet minutes sipping your morning coffee.
Incorporate gratitude first thing in the morning.
Adding gratitude to your morning routine is a great way to build the habit and maintain an attitude of gratitude overall. It also gets your day off to a positive and optimistic start. If you’ve ever woken up on the wrong side of the bed, then you know just how much the morning can affect the rest of your day. By making sure to be grateful first thing in the morning, you can combat the effects of what may have been a difficult morning and completely turn your day around!
Start a gratitude journal.
Those who enjoy journaling are sure to love keeping a gratitude journal. This is a very simple practice; all you need is a notebook and something to write with. At some point during the day, take a couple of minutes to write down several things you’re grateful for. Then, when you’re having a tough day, you can look back on all of the things you’ve written. This is sure to remind you how fortunate you are and help you to get past any difficult or challenging emotions. Gratitude journaling helps you to embrace positive thinking and optimism as well.
Think of gratitude as a form of treatment for mental health issues.
Maybe you have a diagnosis of depression or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), or perhaps you struggle with unhealthy coping mechanisms like turning to alcohol or binge-watching Netflix when you feel stressed out (to the point where it interferes with your daily activities). Gratitude has been shown to alleviate some of the symptoms of mental health disorders such as PTSD, which typically presents with flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety. (If you’ve experienced trauma and think you may be living with PTSD as a result, you can take a free assessment at Mind Diagnostics. Gratitude also improves anxiety, depression, stress, and general mental health. When you notice the symptoms of mental illness occurring (for example, if you have PTSD, when you encounter a trigger that makes you anxious or prompts a flashback), try redirecting your energy toward gratitude. Studies have shown that veterans with higher levels of gratitude tend to have lower rates of PTSD. To incorporate gratitude into your daily life, you can simply list things you’re grateful for in your mind, or you could even write them in your gratitude journal. When you think of gratitude as a way to improve your mental health and trust that it will alleviate some of the challenging symptoms caused by mental health disorders, it’s more likely that gratitude will have a strong beneficial effect. And once you notice those benefits, it’ll become even easier to maintain a consistent attitude of gratitude!
Thank the people in your life.
Consider the ways in which the people in your life play a part in your wellbeing. Then, be sure to express your gratitude for your friends and loved ones! Let them know that you acknowledge and appreciate everything they do for you. Not only will this help you to view the people in your life with a positive perspective, but it will also improve your relationships and communication. When people feel appreciated, they’re much more likely to continue to help you out and be there for you. And if you regularly show your gratitude for others, they may pick up on it and begin to show more gratitude for you in return.
The Bottom Line
It may take some time and effort before gratitude becomes a natural part of your daily life, but it’s absolutely worth it. Remember to thank yourself and your loved ones and show your appreciation on a regular basis. You may even want to keep a gratitude journal and add gratitude into your morning routine to get your days off to a positive start! Gratitude has a multitude of benefits, not least of which is improved mood and psychological wellbeing, so if you’re on a journey to improve your mental health, gratitude is an amazing tool to add to your life.
