November is a time when many Americans take a break from their busy lives to give thanks. We fill our plates and stomachs with turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie while giving thanks. Don't let giving thanks this month be a one-time event. There are simple ways we can train ourselves to be grateful all year long. Studies show that those who regularly take account of all of the things they are grateful for are happier. Who doesn't want to be happier?
Start by getting yourself into a daily routine of gratefulness. Introduce your new routine after something else you do every day. If you have a cup of coffee every morning, work your gratitude routine into the habit of drinking your joe. If you go for a walk at lunch every day, work it in there. New habits are easiest to form when they piggyback off an existing habit.
Journaling a list of things you are grateful for is a great way to train yourself to become more grateful and to look for those things, people, and events that spark gratitude in you. Every day, write a list on a piece of paper or use one of the many gratitude journaling apps. By making a list each day, you begin to train yourself to grateful for more often. If you already engage in mediation practice, working gratefulness into your meditation can also train you to become more grateful when not meditating.
Buy a box of thank you cards and make a point to handwrite a thank you card each week. Not only does this train you to be more grateful, handwritten cards are so rarely received these days that your card will stand out to your recipient.
Engaging in a regular gratefulness practice will train you to be more grateful. As you become more grateful, you'll see the positive side of challenging situations and improve your mental health.
Ready to get started but need a little help? We’re here. Have some questions or other great ideas for a daily gratitude routine? We’d love to hear them. Contact us any time at 877-676-5492, or request a consultation.
