Gratitude is often overlooked in terms of its benefits for mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing, but when you say thank you to someone or give someone a complement it not only makes them feel good, it makes you feel good too!
Practicing gratitude is about recognizing and showing appreciation for what is good in life and many studies have now shown that it has a positive impact on our mental and physical health.
The benefits of gratitude
Feeling grateful can help us to:
- Feel happier and less stressed.
- Feel more optimistic, positive and hopeful about life.
- Show more resilience in the face of challenges.
It also helps us to focus more on the good / positive aspects of our lives, rather than dwelling on the challenging / not so good aspects, which reduce the chances of suffering from anxiety and depression.
This can also benefit us physically. Some research studies have now suggested that people who express gratitude tend to take better care of their bodies (by eating well, exercising, and reporting fewer aches and pains). People who practice gratitude may also experience a boost in their immune systems, have lower blood pressure and get more sleep.
So, its definitely worth trying to get into the habit of doing this!
How to practice gratitude with Children
Some ideas which you can try with your children to encourage them to be more grateful in life are included below.
- It may seem basic, but kids need help learning how and when to say “thank you” to others. Helping them to do this is a great first step. For younger kids this might simply involve reminding them when to say thank you, so they can get used to saying it. For older kids, you could even encourage them to write thank-you notes after receiving birthday gifts for example.
- Consider giving them a gratitude journal to write down things they are grateful for every day.
- You could go around the dinner table every night asking each person to share something that they are grateful for that day, or talk about one thing you’re grateful for before getting into bed each night.
- You could create a gratitude jar and have each family member write something they are grateful for on a piece of paper.
- Encourage your child to think beyond just material things. This could be appreciating time spent with family or friends, watching a beautiful sunset, or noticing the way they made someone feel when they shared their toys for example.