Practicing gratitude is a total game-changer! Taking time to practice small bits of gratitude has improved both my personal and work life more than I could ever imagine, and this life hack is something I wish more people knew about! 

Gratitude is all about noticing and acknowledging the little things–really taking the time to recognize kindness and good luck and allowing yourself to feel thankful for it! As Jon Kabat-Zinn says, “The little things? The little moments? They aren’t little.” Even something as small as holding open the door for someone can change the direction of their whole day!

To start practicing gratitude, you want to make small, gradual changes. Remember, no habit is built overnight. I promise it's easier than you think!

1) Keep a Gratitude Journal

Create a daily practice in which you remind yourself of the gifts, love, benefits, and good things you enjoy. Recalling moments of gratitude associated with ordinary events, your personal attributes, or valued people in your life allows you to become more aware of them in day-to-day life.

2) Remember the Bad

To be grateful in your current state, it is helpful to remember the hard times that you once experienced. When you remember how difficult life used to be and how far you have come, you remind yourself of how much you've changed! There is so much to be thankful for that!

3) Ask Yourself Three Questions

Think about your relationships with parents, friends, siblings, work associates, children, and partners using these three questions: “What have I received from __?”, “What have I given to __?”, and “What troubles and difficulty have I caused?” This allows you to be more aware and mindful of your relationships and what's going well in them.

4) Share Your Gratitude with Others

Research has found that expressing gratitude can strengthen relationships. So the next time your partner, friend, or family member does something you appreciate, be sure to let them know.

5) Come to Your Senses

Through your senses—the ability to touch, see, smell, taste, and hear—you can gain an appreciation of what it means to be human and of what a miracle it is to be alive. When you look through the lens of gratitude, the human body is not only an incredible creation, but also a gift. Always give yourself perspective!

Practicing gratitude really does have unbelievable benefits! Not only does it make you more aware of the good, but people who practice gratitude report fewer physical symptoms of illness, more optimism, greater goal attainment, and decreased anxiety/depression among other health benefits. Never underestimate gratitude!