• Email
  • Physician Schedules
  • APPS
  • Health Source
|

Gratitude can keep you happy and healthy.

Toni-Ann DiSantis

Gratitude can keep you happy and healthy.

Counting your blessings may enhance happiness and well-being, according to research. Perhaps unsurprisingly, noticing the good on a daily basis can make you feel more positive about your life. Expressing gratitude can also make you feel better physically. Research shows that grateful people tend to engage in regular physical activity and other healthy activities, and they’re proactive in seeking help for aches, pains, and other medical issues. Gratitude can also benefit sleep, reduce risk of depression, lower levels of stress, and improve heart health. To enjoy the many benefits of a gratitude-filled life well beyond Turkey Day, try these techniques:

Keep a daily or weekly gratitude journal. First thing in the morning or at the end of each day or week, write down 1-3 things you’re grateful for.
Tell a spouse, partner or friend something you appreciate about them every day.
When expressing thanks, practice saying “thank you” in a sincere and meaningful way.
Take “gratitude walks”. Walk outside and notice as many positive things around you as you can—sights, sounds, colors, smells, or other sensations.
Write a letter of gratitude to someone who did something for you for which you are grateful but to whom you never expressed your gratitude.