When was the last time you took a moment to appreciate the little things? Practicing gratitude has profound effects on both physical and mental health.
As noted by the Mayo Clinic, “expressing gratitude is associated with a host of mental and physical benefits. Studies have shown that feeling thankful can improve sleep, mood and immunity. Gratitude can decrease depression, anxiety, difficulties with chronic pain and risk of disease.”
Recognizing reasons to be thankful connects us and lifts us up together. Gratitude can help us feel less alone as we appreciate all the fantastic things that bring color to our world.
Breathe in, reflect, and exhale gratitude. Explore the key benefits of incorporating gratitude into your daily life with our go-to healthcare app.
The Mental Health Benefits of Gratitude
Our outlook has the power to significantly impact our mental health. What impact is your daily perspective having? Consider the ways gratitude can positively influence mental health.
Reduce Depression and Anxiety
Gratitude boosts our overall happiness and makes us feel more connected with those in our circle. Feeling appreciative can help us improve at showing empathy. In turn, a greater sense of support and connection fuels our social needs as humans. This reduces feelings of depression and anxiety as we set our sights on enjoying what we have.
Improve Mood
Thankfulness extends to ourselves as well as others. Through mindful gratitude, we can boost our confidence and squash the urge to compare ourselves to others. Our mood is easily uplifted when we take a moment to smile at our own strengths and appreciate what we have.
Elevate Sleep Quality
With less anxiety and a better headspace, our sleep quality can be drastically improved. Consider incorporating gratitude into your nightly wind down with mindfulness exercises and meditations to ensure a good night’s sleep.
The Physical Health Benefits of Gratitude
Total well-being is the foundation of our fitness app. Sometimes that looks like home workout classes. At other times, it’s quiet reflection and meditation. Either option supports total body health and wellness.
Support Heart Health
Thankfulness is, in fact, good for the heart. Gratitude has been linked to improved heart health, a lower risk of cardiac disease, and better-regulated blood pressure. When we pause to appreciate the little things, we’re more likely to take extra time to prepare mindful meals, go for a walk or take a yoga class, and achieve a quality night’s sleep. These benefits of gratitude contribute to improved cardiovascular health.
Relieve Stress
Feeling grateful calms the nervous system, allowing for better cognitive function and reduced stress overall. When our mind is occupied with anxiety, we often miss the aspects of our lives that spark joy. Let’s start with the good and begin each day with a grateful outlook to reduce stress and feel excited about the adventure ahead.
Boost Immune System
Lower stress, better sleep, and healthier habits mean a supercharged immune system. Gratitude helps our body regulate cortisol appropriately — the stress hormone that can be overproduced when we’re under pressure. This elevates our immunity, helps us maintain a healthy body weight, and has even been known to improve conditions such as allergies, asthma, and chronic joint pain.
Prioritize a Grateful Mindset to Improve Physical and Mental Health
Ready to put thankfulness into action to improve physical and mental health? Check out these gratitude exercises to do at home for a brighter perspective.
Keep a Gratitude Journal
Start simple, by writing down three things you’re grateful for everyday. Before long, you’ll have an entire story of thankfulness to reflect on during times when you need uplifting. Try our unguided meditations while you self-reflect on what you are grateful for.
Share Your Gratitude
Appreciation is meant to be shared! Don’t keep this amazing mindset to yourself. Express your gratitude for friends and family through notes, thoughtful acts, and simply making time for each other.
Practice Mindfulness
Be in the moment. Staying grounded allows us to appreciate what we have now, rather than always looking ahead. Committing to an instructional fitness routine is a great way to train yourself to have a present mindset through discipline, consistency, and mental clarity. Start with being grateful for yourself in the Morning Grateful for Me Meditation.
Our Sworkit family is at the top of our gratitude list. We’re glad you’re here and even more glad you’ve chosen to be a part of our fitness community. Movement and wellness for everyone is at the heart of our health app. Prioritizing your well-being is one of the best ways to say “thank you” to yourself. Request a demo today to learn more.
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