A LITTLE “THANKS” GOES A LONG WAY.
By MORGAN GREENWALD
On its own, being a grateful person is already a good thing; a little niceness never hurts. But the quality comes with a number of surprising mental and physical health benefits, as well. For proof, just spend some time with someone who’s on-the-whole more appreciative than most. You’ll quickly see that they’re more happy, less resentful, and even in possession of a keener mind than the average individual.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg! Though you can’t always see it, the benefits of being grateful even extend beyond the brain, making a person’s heart healthier and leading to better, more restorative sleeps. It’s enough to make a guy or gal want to say “thanks” to every little action, no matter how small—or even just for kicks. Read on, and see for yourself.
It makes you more optimistic.
Unsurprisingly, one of the biggest benefits of being grateful is that you’ll be granted a better outlook on life. In one study from the University of Miami, psychologists found that people who wrote down the things they were thankful for during the week proved to be the most optimistic, compared to those who wrote about the things that bothered them and those who simply wrote about daily occurrences neither positive nor negative.
It boosts your mood.
If you’re ever in a bad mood, just show someone your gratitude and your spirits will be instantly lifted. Evidently, something as simple as giving someone a letter expressing your appreciation can have a profound effect on your happiness levels.
It helps you work harder.
If you’re dealing with unmotivated employees, showing them a little bit of gratitude might help. Researchers at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania found that, when university fundraisers were given a pep talk before their shift, they made 50 percent more calls compared to those who were sent off to work sans chat.
It keeps your relationship thriving.
All any husband or wife wants is just to know that their small acts of kindness don’t go unnoticed. By expressing your gratitude in your relationship, you can ensure that your marriage stays happy and healthy and that both you and your partner are adequately satisfied.
It makes you want to hit the gym.
People who are more outwardly thankful are also more active. Numerous studies have shown the correlation between a person’s amount of gratitude and their number of trips to the gym, with one study showing that those who kept a weekly gratitude journal worked out nearly one-and-a-half more hours per week than the control group.