As we near the end of the year and reflecting back at 2020, it is safe to say that it has not been easy for any of us to monitor our stress levels. Aside from the ongoing pandemic, there has been one natural disaster after another. From blazing fires across our natural landscapes, snow storms and hurricanes, it all can make us feel overwhelmed. And now that our workspace blended into our living space, it has made it more difficult to separate the two. Cue the anxiety.
However, there are ways to manage our stress-levels in order to remain productive and not focus on what we cannot control. It's a simple practice, but not always easy to execute-gratitude. In the simplest terms gratefulness is an adjective used to describe our emotional state towards an act of kindness. Being thankful, expressing positivity towards those who are in our lives.
So how do we remain grateful, especially while we are working from home?
Why is it important to be grateful?
Let's start off why this practice is helpful to our mental health. It's good to take a step back at times from all the hectic events around us and reflect on what is positive in our lives at this moment. Dwelling on all the negativity around us takes its toll on us, not just mentally but physically. Potentially leading to sleep deprivation or anxiety. It is amazing what the body will do when we let all the negativity around us weigh us down. Taking a few moments a day to reflect on something we are grateful for right now, can help to lighten some of that burden.
Here are some additional tips on how you can build the habit of gratitude and make it stick:
- Keep a journal to write down daily, something you are grateful for. This may start out hard to make a habit of, but in the long run can shift your daily thinking. If you're unsure about how to begin a gratitude journal, the Five Minute Journal has structured daily entries to make it easy to write down what you're grateful for without the time commitment.
- Write personal letters or thank you notes to coworkers and/or customers. Thanking others for a job well done not only boosts your inner gratefulness but may brighten someone else's day.
- Keep in contact with your coworkers, especially if you're working from home. The feelings of isolation has increased with more and more companies having their employees work from home.
- Keep that glass half full- and watch your language! Keeping your words uplifting and pleasant can foster not only your, but your employees or coworkers gratefulness at work.
- Disconnect from technology. This tip alone has it own set of benefits, but has positive attributes to contribute to the practice of gratitude. Unplugging for a few hours allows you to be present in your own life and not be consumed with negative external factors. It also prevents you from comparing yourself from others and give you an opportunity to reflect and value the attributes you have.
- Go through the motions of practicing how to be grateful and your mind will follow. Initially, it may feel awkward and down right hard to do. However, if you're struggling to find something to be grateful for that day, start simple and soon you may find it genuine and appreciate the things that are in your life.
Be patient with yourself, continue the practice and watch the benefits slowly adjust your mindset. Your gratitude towards others can become infectious, allowing a ripple effect onto your colleagues, clients, and partners!
Have other suggestions on how to be grateful, share it with us down below in the comments!
