Thanksgiving is about to peak its head and there are lots of people being extra thankful this season. Gratitude is one of the key factors to happiness according to several studies. This is because gratitude allows us to trade negative thoughts for thoughts of appreciation that leads to a more positive outlook. Practicing gratitude also allows us to also recognize the people who make us feel grateful. This refreshed outlook on our life helps us generally feel more positive, but it also has a lot of physical and mental benefits. For example, practicing gratitude can boost self-esteem, reduce feelings of envy and improve sleep.

To start off, you can try a traditional gratitude journal. Studies show that keeping a journal can increase happiness by 10%. The beauty of this practice is that you can be as detailed or as concise as you want. Three detailed entries or a long bulleted list can suffice as long as it helps you reflect on what you’re thankful for. You an also try kicking things off with a guided gratitude practice to see how you can start.

ProFlowers put together a guide to practicing gratitude so you can learn more about the benefits of gratitude and how you can practice it. Walk through their guide and see how you can apply some of these tips to your daily life.

Infographic by ProFlowers

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