Gratitude activities.

Studies have shown that feeling gratitude can improve sleep, mood, and immunity. Gratitude can decrease depression, anxiety, difficulties with chronic pain and risk of disease.

Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, and improve their health.

With gratitude, people acknowledge the goodness in their lives.

Being grateful also helps people connect to something larger than themselves as individuals — whether to other people, nature, or a higher power.

Gratitude helps people refocus on what they have instead of what they lack.

Self-gratitude can build confidence and help you face challenges in ways no else can. Reminded yourself of your own strengths and abilities. This will motivate you to keep going and take on the next challenge.

A few activities for practicing gratitude

Morning Coffee / Tea Gratitude – Feel the warmth of the cup. The smell of the drink. Start your beautiful day with positivity as you drink it in.

A Gratitude Letter – This can be emailed but from personal experience, a handwritten letter in a card will greatly affect the receiver with heart felt joy.

Gratitude Rock – keep a rock that brings you joy. It doesn’t matter the shape or smoothness, it’s your rock. I keep mine in my pocket.  Each time I reach in and pull it out I think of something I an grateful for before I put it back.

Share family memories at a family get together.

Gratitude garden – pick a special area that makes you feel good, plant your favorite plants and flowers, add a bench or tree stump where you can sit. Relax and look around and be grateful for the beauty around you.

Keep a gratitude journal – Each day write down things you were grateful for that day. Research shows the more detailed you are the more beneficial journaling with be to your happiness and health.

The Gratitude jar – This can be any container that brings you joy. Examples, a jar , a vase, a box, a bowl, a basket…   If you want, decorate it and make it special to you. Every day write down something that made you grateful that day. Try and do more than 1. Write them on special paper to make the contents look colorful on the outside. When you look at this container you will see just how much you have to be grateful for. On special occasions share some of your moments.

Keep calm.  Remember when things are not going right to step back and breathe. Think about something that makes you happy. Think about something to be grateful for.