By Katelynn Luu
I wish I had better grades. I wish I had more money. I wish I had less homework. I wish I had more time.
Does that sound familiar to you?
It’s easy to wish for more, for better. It’s also an important and beneficial skill — you can’t improve something without recognizing what’s wrong or lacking. However, recognizing what is right, and what is there — being grateful for what you have — is an important skill that can benefit your mental and physical well-being.
According to UCLA Health, gratitude can reduce stress and anxiety, support heart health, relieve stress, and improve sleep.
Here are some ways that you can practice gratitude:
Journaling
Although writing things down can give off “school assignment” vibes, keeping a notebook to write down your thoughts is a good way to practice self-reflection and also serve as a record of your memories. A common method of gratitude journaling is to write down three things that you are grateful for at the end of each day, which can provide a moment of reflection before heading to bed.
Letters & Cards
If you have a specific person or group of people that you’re particularly grateful for, you can write them a letter or card to express your gratitude. The reflection you do when writing is beneficial to you, and you can brighten someone’s day by letting them know how much you appreciate them and why.
Say “Thank you”
Even if you don’t have time to sit down and write a card, you can still express gratitude verbally. “Thank you” is a phrase we’re told to use as children for the sake of being polite, but next time you say “thank you,” try to be more intentional about it. Ask yourself, “Why am I grateful for this person?”
Practicing gratitude doesn’t always have to be some fancy practice or method, though. It can be as simple as thinking of things that you’re grateful for on the way to school, or in a conversation with a friend.
Although it’s easy to get distracted with our goals and our wants, that doesn’t diminish the importance of being grateful for what we have.