5 Ways to Practice Gratitude
Practicing gratitude can be a powerful tool to cultivate happiness and positivity in our lives. With the festive season now over, it’s important to take a moment and reflect on those blessings we’ve received - no matter how small. Practicing gratitude can be so important for our overall wellbeing as individuals, but what about as a team? Is it possible to practice gratitude at work?
Why Gratitude Matters
When we focus on the good things in our lives, we shift our perspective and appreciate the little things. Gratitude can:
Reduce stress and anxiety: By focusing on the positive, we can lessen the impact of negative emotions.
Improve physical health: Studies have shown that gratitude can boost our immune system and lower blood pressure.
Enhance relationships: Expressing gratitude to loved ones (and those in the workplace) strengthens bonds and deepens connections.
Increase happiness: A simple act of gratitude can significantly boost our overall well-being.
Introducing a Daily Gratitude Practice
Here are some simple ways to practice gratitude, both individually and as a team:
Start small: Begin by taking a few minutes each day to jot down three things you're grateful for. This only needs to take a few minutes - or use the Journal app if you’re on the go.
Keep a gratitude journal: TThis can be a really creative way to list what you’re grateful for. Here are some tips to get started.
How about a Gratitude Wall…displaying photos or images of all the things you’re grateful for, or achievements that you’re proud of…great for those wfh! It’s also a great visual aid to see things you’ve achieved, or the small things that have brought you joy.
Share your gratitude: Express your appreciation to others, whether it's a simple thank-you note or a heartfelt conversation. Get your family involved, and do this together. When I had my daughter we started practicing gratitude every dinner time - we each talk about the things that we’re grateful for that day. It’s a great way of getting kids involved, of creating conversation over the dinner table, and it’s how our Gratitude Stitching workshop was born!
Practicing gratitude at work: In a business how often do we practice gratitude? I’m sure we all evaluate projects to improve for the future, but how about thinking about what we’re grateful for? Can you be grateful for the contribution that a team member has made? Or A recent win? Take time to express those thanks to your team.
If a challenging situation has arised at work, or perhaps something’s gone wrong - can we be thankful that we have learnt from it? Are we better at our jobs because of it? Has the workplace or culture improved because of a difficult conversation? This may be harder to do when we feel like a situation has been negative, but if we can start to flip the message and be thankful, then we can build more resilient teams.
