November is upon us, which means Thanksgiving is right around the corner. A customary practice around the turkey table is to say what you are thankful for, but what happens if this was extended to a year-round practice? Practicing gratitude can make you a happier person this month and beyond.
Fifty-two percent of women and 44 percent of men express gratitude on a regular basis according to an infographic on The Muse. People who are grateful tend to be more satisfied and have more self-control – which could be key as holiday treats start to roll into the office this time of year.
Speaking of the office, according to a study done by Harvard Medical School, managers who remember to say “thanks” may find that employees feel motivated to work harder. It has also been shown that gratitude is more motivating than money. Gratitude is contagious, so practicing gratitude at work will help create a corporate culture of thanks.
Thanks can be given in a multitude of ways. You can stop by a coworker’s desk and say thanks for help on a project or send a friendly email. If you want to go old school, drop a handwritten note on someone’s desk.
To become more grateful yourself, keep a gratitude journal starting now. Write down three things every night that you were thankful for during the day. The key to this practice is two things: be specific and keep writing for more than 5 days. When journaling, do not just say “I’m thankful for my family or my job”, get down to the nitty-gritty and cite specific people or things that you appreciated that day.
If writing is not your thing, try a gratitude meditation. Never meditated before? Not to worry, take 10 minutes and try this guided gratitude meditation. It will lead you through every step of the way.
Need more ideas on how you can become more grateful at work or home? Here’s 10 ways to become more grateful. We are grateful for our clients and candidates not just this season but all year long!
