The Gift of Gratitude

Giving thanks isn't just for Thanksgiving. Many studies have linked being grateful with both physical and mental health benefits. Studies have found that:

Gratitude fights addiction. A 2017 article in the Addiction Research & Theory journal found gratitude could be a way to negate substance abuse. Positive attitudes improve quality of life and help form stronger social bonds. Researchers found that grateful people battling substance misuse had more social resources and were more likely to adopt new coping strategies versus drug or alcohol dependence.

Gratitude has healing properties. A 2016 study by Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital found that patients who suffered acute coronary events benefitted from appreciation. During recovery, gratitude and optimism led to health improvements while also reducing depression and anxiety.

Gratitude improves sleep. In 2016, the Journal of Health Psychology reported gratitude positively impacted heart function and sleep among women. After two weeks of daily note-taking on thankfulness, the group was more optimistic, slept better and lowered their diastolic blood pressures.

Gratitude is a mood booster. Frontiers in Psychology published a 2019 study that required participants to keep a daily gratitude list for two weeks. Those who wrote these positive aspects of their lives reduced negative emotions—including depression.

Gratitude keeps employees happy. Years before the coronavirus pandemic, the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology investigated keeping healthcare practitioners on the job. The study required one group of workers to keep a gratitude list, while the other group kept a list of daily hassles. After two weeks, the grateful group reported improved emotional well-being that continued up to six months later.

How to Get Started

A common way to begin a daily gratitude challenge is to keep a journal. You can buy a journal with pre-made prompts or start with a blank journal. Write down at least three things, people, places or experiences you are thankful for daily, as well as why the items on your list make you grateful.

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