7 Ways to Show Gratitude for National Gratitude Month
November is National Gratitude Month! It’s the perfect time to take a step back from the regular hustle and bustle of life and find ways to include showing gratitude each day. Not only can this help boost your mental health, but it is also a wonderful way to remind others how much they mean to you.
Today, we’re talking about 7 ways to show gratitude to boost yourself and those around you. Read on, and let’s be grateful!
What Is Showing Gratitude All About?
As we observe National Gratitude Month, what’s it all about? Did you know studies have shown that people who practice ways to show gratitude on a daily or regular basis tend to be happier and healthier? Finding ways to show gratitude each day keeps us from dwelling on negative emotions and brings us back to a positive mindset. Beyond just ourselves, however, it also has the effect of boosting others, which is a great way to pay it forward.
Practicing gratitude has shown the potential for benefits including:
- Developing a stronger immune system
- Elevating your mood and keeping you more generally happy
- Ability to process emotions more effectively
- Stronger, more compassionate relationships with others
In the end, kindness is free, and incorporating ways to show gratitude has only upsides!
Ways to Show Gratitude
While November may be National Gratitude Month, let’s make it a habit to show gratitude each day, all year long. No, it doesn’t mean you’ll never experience negative emotions again (although wouldn’t that be great?), but finding ways to show gratitude daily can have a positive impact on your everyday life.
A few ways to show gratitude this month, and all year round, include:
- Telling someone what they mean to you
- Starting a gratitude journal
- Surprising a loved one with a gift just because
- Being present and engaging with others in the moment
- Saying thank you
- Highlighting the strengths of others
- Reflecting on what you’re thankful for each day
Telling Someone What They Mean to You
One of the easiest and most amazing ways to show gratitude is to simply tell someone what they mean to you. Doesn’t it feel good when someone tells you how much you mean to them or how nice something you did made them feel? Truth be told, giving that praise to others can feel just as nice! While we don’t want to get into the habit of giving praise for our own feelings, it’s certainly a welcome benefit of finding ways to show gratitude that we won’t turn down.
Starting a Gratitude Journal
Even the busiest of people can benefit from starting a gratitude journal. No, it doesn’t have to be a major time commitment, but taking just a few minutes each morning before you start your day – or a few minutes in the evening as part of a relaxing night time routine – to write down things you’re thankful for that day can make a major difference. A small, simple, but effective way to show gratitude, these journals can also serve as great tools to improve our mental health in tough times.
Giving a Gift Just Because
Random acts of kindness with no expectation of return are next on our list of ways to show gratitude for National Gratitude Month. Gifts for friends, family, neighbors, or even employees in the workplace can strengthen ties and bring out the positive mental effects of gratitude.
Perhaps now is the perfect time to welcome your new neighbor with a sweet treat or surprise a significant other with a small token of affection. Gifts can also be ways to show someone we care about their well-being.
You can also show your gratitude for a loved one with a gift that improves personal health and wellness.For example, a luxury zero gravity chair makes a wonderful gift for our loved ones because it combines style and versatility with a plethora of potential health benefits.
In the workplace, National Gratitude Month is the perfect time to find ways to show gratitude to employees. After all, employees are foundational in helping a business succeed. Different ways to show gratitude for employees could be providing gift cards to a popular restaurant or coffee shop, providing a little extra time off, or adding a zero gravity chair to the lounge room for employees to relax and recharge on their breaks. The opportunities to show employees you care are endless and it’s well known that employees who feel valued and appreciated tend to be more productive.
Being Present and Engaging With Others
Continuing our exploration of ways to show gratitude this month and all year long is being present and engaging with others. When you’re talking with someone, make the choice to be present in the conversation and avoid checking your phone outside of emergency cases. Making eye contact, listening to what they have to say, and engaging back with someone are all ways to show you’re prioritizing them at that moment and makes everyone feel better about themselves.
Saying Thank You
Thank you. Those two simple words are arguably the easiest of all the ways to show gratitude at any time. Thanking someone shows them you acknowledge what they’ve done and appreciate it. You can thank anyone for anything! Take the time to thank your neighbors for their friendliness, loved ones for all they’ve done for you over the years, friends for supporting you, employees at businesses for their services, and more. The list of whom to thank goes on and on, with no downsides!
Highlighting the Strengths of Others
Speaking of acknowledging others, next on our list of ways to show gratitude for National Gratitude Month is highlighting the strengths of those around us. Everyone loves to hear when they’ve done a good job or when they excel at something. Even if they’ve failed, highlighting how well the attempt was can be just as validating. Kindness and gratitude can really change someone’s day around and elevate their entire mood.
Reflecting on What You’re Thankful For Each Day
Last, but never least, as we explore ways to show gratitude is reflecting on what you’re thankful for each day. This could be in a gratitude journal, as mentioned before, but you can also simply take a few minutes each day to reflect on what makes you feel thankful. Many people find this to be a beneficial addition to home meditation techniques, as well. Reflecting on what you’re thankful for brings positive things to the forefront of your mind, elevating your mood and helping you reduce stress naturally. It’s an easy practice with far-reaching potential benefits for both your mental and physical well-being.
We hope this list has inspired you for ways to show gratitude! As we observe National Gratitude Month in November, let’s take the time to start these habits and keep them going all year long. A little gratitude goes a long way!
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