While we often associate giving thanks with a specific holiday, we should make practicing gratitude a daily habit all year long. It will actually help us feel better, emotionally and physically. A bonus? It’s contagious!

Benefits of Gratitude

We all know that feeling grateful in the moment feels wonderful, but it also can have lasting effects. Among these positive results are:

• Improved sleep
• Stronger immune system
• Fewer aches and pains
• Elevated mood
• More positive thoughts and emotions
• Better relationships
• Higher self-esteem

You might discover even more benefits as you grow in your gratitude.

Ways to Give Thanks Every Day

Not sure how to be grateful on a regular basis? Here are some ways to incorporate thankfulness into your daily life.

Make note – literally – of what has your gratitude. You can do this however works best for you. 

Not much of a writer? Try speaking your gratitude. Say it to yourself or make it a nightly topic at the dinner table.  

Stop and smell the roses. In other words, don’t take anything for granted. Enjoy the cool breeze during your morning run or the beautiful sunrise, even especially if you struggled to get out of bed early enough.

Appreciate yourself. Acknowledge your own accomplishments, like going on that early run or reaching a career goal.

You know how it makes you feel when someone thanks you for helping them or for just being you? Why not spread those positive emotions and write a thank-you note (or text or email) to people who are important to you?

Use gratitude to relieve stress or to change your perspective on a situation. If you’re worried or angry, shift your thinking to what’s going well in your life. Frustrated with heavy traffic? Be thankful you weren’t involved in the wreck that caused the jam. 

If you want everyone in the family to participate, put up a bulletin board or place a jar in a convenient location where you and they can jot down something they’re grateful for. For a more private experience, keep a journal. 

A top Le-Vel Promoter integrates gratitude into her family’s life using multiple methods. “There’s always something to be grateful for along the path of where you want to be,” she says. “So, as a family, we start a devotion every morning. Every person in our home writes in their gratitude journal. They write at least one thing that they’re grateful for.”

No matter what tactics you choose, be as specific as possible with your words of thanks. Instead of appreciating your husband for being a great father, thank him for encouraging your daughter to audition for the school band. Also, think beyond your personal situation to bigger-picture scenarios like nature, your community and the world. 

By adding gratitude to your life, you’ll find more peace, happiness and health. Why not start today?