Integrating thankfulness and gratitude into the daily routine has proven to be very beneficial. It is a habit that can, and usually will, improve anyone’s mood immensely and can even decrease the effects of depression.
Research has shown that consciously thinking about things one is thankful for everyday can make one feel more appreciative of life overall while simultaneously improving depression symptoms. A study completed by Eva Kahana examined the effect of thankfulness for a full 20 years. Kahana analyzed a group of people who were all 73 years of age or older at the beginning of the study. By the end of the study, the findings were essentially unanimous: those who expressed their gratitude and/or did altruistic things for others around them were significantly happier than those who did not.
One report that was published in the Journal of Happiness Studies discovered that those who were over 60 years of age who kept journals with daily entries focusing on things that made them thankful felt less stressed compared to before they began their documentation. Other studies have found that couples who thanked each other felt happier within their romantic relationships and employees who were thanked by their managers were more motivated and productive.
Tips for being thankful
It can easily be said that thankfulness, gratitude and altruism are good for mental health. So the next step many individuals should take is implementing thankfulness into a daily routine with the following tips:
Sometimes it can be hard to be thankful with all the difficulties that life throws our way. However, making an effort to be thankful and grateful on a daily basis has been proven to be very beneficial, so remember to implement some of these tips to expand your habit of thankfulness going forward.
If you or your loved one is struggling with a mental health disorder, don’t hesitate to find help. Sovereign Health Group provides effective treatment programs for those individuals struggling with mental health issues such as depression or anxiety. To find out more about mental health treatment options offered at Sovereign Health of California, call us at (866) 819-0427 to talk to a member of our team.
Written by Brianna Gibbons, Sovereign Health Group writer