Gratitude Helps

Stay at home, shelter in place, six feet, social distancing... It's a crazy time, unprecedented in our lifetimes, and it can lead to feelings of uncertainty, fear, depression, anxiety, and stress. Finding healthy ways to manage those feelings are important to maintain our mental and physical well-being as we work through the challenges of being cooped up at home. The good news is that there are things we can do that are proven to help: exercise, healthy diet, maintaining good sleep habits. Gratitude is part of the solution, the research is clear.

Gratitude helps.

When we express gratitude, and when we receive expressions of gratitude, our brains respond by releasing serotonin and dopamine, essential neurotransmitters that are involved in our emotions that make us feel good. Expressing gratitude creates feelings of well-being and happiness in both ourselves, and in those we express gratitude to.

Here's a super easy way to incorporate gratitude into your day. In your journal (you ARE journaling through the pandemic, right? Your journals will be tomorrows primary source material for future researchers on this pandemic), take a moment to write 3 things you are grateful for. Here are mine for today:

• I'm grateful that my family is healthy and committed to staying healthy.
• I'm thankful to have what we need to stay at home for an extended period.
• I'm fortunate to have a comfortable place to live, for myself, my family, and my pets.

It's that simple. And if you do this everyday, you will see how gratitude can lift you.

Here are some other things about gratitude that you might find helpful or interesting:
Gratitude vs. Depression -- a short n' sweet YouTube
Five 1-minute ways to practice gratitude -- from MindBodyWise
The Gratitude Experiment -- Tips for HOW to express gratitude, less than 5 minutes.
365 Days of Thank You -- from TEDxYouth San Diego. Worth it.
The Science of Gratitude -- If you really want to get into the weeds on gratitude research, start here. Competencies, anyone?