In the days leading up to the new year, many of us turn our thoughts to making a few key changes in our lives. Maybe we aspire to take better care of ourselves, eat a healthier diet, and get more exercise to enhance or improve our lives through making changes in our routines or imposing strict rules on ourselves. While ambitious diet, exercise, or other lifestyle changes often set even the most determined individuals up for a difficult challenge, there is a little-known life-enhancing strategy—or lifestyle hack—that can positively impact our relationships, our mental and physical health, and the way we think about and treat ourselves. This powerful strategy is none other than gratitude.

“When it comes to life, the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.” These words from British social philosopher and writer G. K. Chesterton embody the message of the importance and power of gratitude. Gratitude is more than a passing trend or a means of glossing over our very real-life struggles and challenges. It is a conscious act of cultivating awareness of the good things in life, expressing this gratitude to others, and creating daily practices that reinforce these positive observations and actions. These efforts result in tremendous benefits for the individual who practices gratitude.

Numerous scientific studies offer overwhelming evidence that gratitude that one of the most powerful and life-enhancing tools we can use to improve our relationships and our physical health in many ways, including stress reduction and improved sleep, heart health, and immune system functioning. The mental health benefits of gratitude include improved self-esteem, lower levels of depression and anxiety, and improved interpersonal relationships.

Here’s the good news. Integrating a gratitude practice into your life is not a difficult or burdensome task. Here are a few simple steps to help get you started:

References

Giving thanks can make you happier. Harvard Health Publishing. August 14, 2021.

Health benefits of gratitude. UCLA Health. March 22, 2023.

American Psychiatric Association. Practicing Gratitude to Boost Mental Well-being. July 8, 2020.