Four tips to help you be more grateful this year
Gratitude can be more than a polite thanks, it can be a quality, a tool even, that you use to shape your life. Be mindful and present in your life to notice the many things you can be grateful for.
When you make a point of being grateful, you become aware of your blessings and will feel a need to share and be kind to yourself and others.
And it benefits you in the following ways, according to scientists:
– Improved physical and mental health
– Improved self esteem
– Less aggression
– More empathy for people
– Improved sleep
– Reduced anxiety
According to research, people who practice gratitude are more optimistic, humble, and more satisfied with their lives. Their relationships show more depth and empathy.
This applies to the workplace too. Employees who feel their work is appreciated, and their opinion valued, tend to work hard and feel good about themselves.
To integrate gratitude in our lives, we must be intentional. We need to slow down so that we can appreciate what we have.
Try these four tips from The Harvest Table to start your gratitude journey:
1. Savouring walk: Take a daily walk and actively notice all the things around you that are pleasing. Feel the sun on your face and the wind on your skin. Notice the design of the houses and the textures and colours of nature around you.
2. Meditate: Whether it is deep meditation or yoga – there are many ways to renew your mind. Focus on the people, and the things you are grateful for.
3. Gratitude journal: Write down the things you are grateful for every day. These entries will log special moments or memories you can reread when you are having a bad day.
4. Give something up: Indulge in a favourite food or activity, then give it up for a week. When you return to that task or snack, recognise how grateful you are for it.
