It’s that time of year again! November is the month we reflect on our lives and give thanks, but what if we give thanks every day? Would our lives be changed? Short answer, yes. Expressing gratitude benefits both our mental and physical health when practiced daily. Giving positive attention and energy to what we enjoy challenges us, makes us better humans, attracts more positivity to our lives, and ripples health benefits throughout the body. When we practice gratitude in our daily lives, we also attract like-minded people into our lives, further expanding the benefits. Have you ever heard, “smiles are contagious?” They truly are. Energy, both positive and negative, is contagious. For many, the holiday season can be filled with depression, sorrow, and anxiety. Shifting focus even for a few seconds into gratitude has progressively improved depression and anxiety. Positive psychology research has shown appreciation is positively associated with a stronger sense of happiness. Thankfully we have control over where we put our energy. Today’s blogs focusses on the health benefits of gratitude and ten ways to practice it in our daily lives.
Practicing Daily Gratitude has been shown to bring the following benefits
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Better Sleep
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Fewer Headaches
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Better Immune system
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Improved Social Interactions
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Improved Sense of Overall Happiness
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Reduced Anger
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Reduced Anxiety
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Reduced Depression
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Improved Stress
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Decreased Blood Pressure
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Make a daily gratitude list. Simply write ten or more things you are grateful for in your journal or on your phone notepad. No need to overcomplicate it!
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Spend time, whether in the car driving or waiting in line at the store naming five things you are grateful for in your life.
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Make a list of people, including someone you love, someone you have a challenging time with, and someone you hardly know. Then write down something you admire or are grateful for in them.
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Try a gratitude meditation. There are many resources for mindful meditation, including the Calm app, Insight Timer app, and the University of California Los Angeles Mindful app.
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Give your body gratitude. Look in the mirror, look yourself in the eyes, and tell yourself five things you are grateful for about yourself.
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Treat your body's gratitude by nurturing it with high-nutrient foods like Designer Wellness protein powders, Designer Smoothies, gummies, nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables.
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Give thanks for your meals and snacks. Give yourself time to thank all the hard work behind the products and food you buy. Everything on your plate or in your cup needs farmers, company employees, grocery store employees, shipping employees, and much more to bring it to you. We at Designer Wellness are a small but mighty team who are thankful to have you enjoy our mindfully and scientifically crafted products.
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Do a body scan while you lie in bed and give gratitude for everything head to toe.
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Tell one person a day, whether a stranger or someone you know, what you are grateful for in them.
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When saying thank you to someone, acknowledge their actual action, which brings more awareness and helps the person feel more seen.
Take this month to start a habit that expands beyond November into daily practice. Try one or all of the suggestions in our list. And treat your body with gratitude by feeding it foods that serve and nurture it. Designer Wellness designs all its products to nurture and serve the body’s diverse needs without artificial ingredients or only high-quality ingredients. Nurturing your gut nurtures your mind and makes it easier to focus on gratitude.
Resources:
University of California Los Angeles Mindfu
