Gratitude Works

Gratitude may be the best-kept secret to help reduce stress and feel better. Practicing gratitude every day can improve your physical and emotional well-being.

Learn more about ways to practice gratitude and resources that can help.

Ideas for Practicing Gratitude

Think about why you are grateful for you.

Are you grateful for your good health? For the project that you completed? Be kind to yourself by being thankful for making it through a hard time, even if you weren’t able to accomplish everything you wanted to.

Hand and torso of black woman holding pencil and writing

Write a letter to a friend or call someone and tell them you are grateful for them and why.

Think of someone who did or said something that changed your life for the better—someone you never properly thanked, someone you may not have thought about or seen for a while. Write a letter of gratitude to this person.

person kneeling near a door with a box full of items

Do a favor for someone you are grateful for, or if you can, consider volunteering.

Leave a meal, a plant, or a card on a friend’s doorstep. Consider volunteering for an organization or activity where you can help others.

Asian man sitting with a book and headphones

Start a gratitude journal.

Once a week, give yourself 10 to 15 minutes and write down people, places, objects, memories, or events you’re grateful for.

Resources

Practicing gratitude can improve health and happiness. These exercises can encourage you to express gratitude in a thoughtful, deliberate way.