10 Ways Showing Gratitude Can Make You Happier

As the year winds down, this is the time when we often reflect on our accomplishments and the goals we’ve achieved. But it’s also a great time to show gratitude and appreciation for the special people in our lives. Showing gratitude can include helping those around us, and it can also be beneficial to our own health. Psychologists and therapists say that giving thanks can increase our own happiness by helping us experience positive emotions, and it can help us build stronger connections with our friends, family and communities.

“The practice of showing gratitude can have multiple benefits for our emotional health, and research has shown the beneficial impact of focusing on gratitude in our daily lives," says clinical psychologist Dr. Beth Pausic, the director of behavioral health at telemedicine company Hims & Hers. "Some benefits include lower stress levels, improved sleep, an elevated mood and decreased depression.”

Showing gratitude can be a solo endeavor or an activity that includes the whole family. From creating a gratitude jar to cooking a meal for a friend, each of the following ideas is a friendly reminder that giving thanks can be simple, but can leave a lasting impact on those around us

The holidays are a great time to send loved ones a card, and cards can be personalized with family photos or a letter updating the family on the events of this past year. While so much of our lives is digital, it’s special to send a family member a card, letter or photo that they can savor for years to come. Rose-Stella Pierre-Louis is an occupational therapist and transformational life coach who advises, “this season, create postcards and mail family and friends using old pictures. Print photos from your computer and add a personal touch by writing something memorable from that moment.”

Get all of your family members into the habit of recognizing what they are thankful for. One tangible way to do that is to create a gratitude jar. "Have your kids write down on separate pieces of paper what they are thankful for," Pierre-Louis suggests. "Get creative and have fun using color markers or gel pens, and colored paper. Place it in a mason jar and pull it out when you need a pick-me-up.”