In 2020, many of us have had a lot more time to reflect on what’s important: health, family, friends, etc. We value those things even more during a year that’s seen a pandemic, protests and an at times caustic, presidential election. Yet there is one often overlooked reason to be grateful:
Gratitude benefits your overall well-being.
How, you might ask? Let me count the ways, as gratitude:
- Reduces stress and makes us more resilient.
- Helps us feel more positive emotions.
- Frees us from toxic emotions.
- Improves our self-esteem
- Decreases symptoms of depression.
- Makes it easier to sleep better.
- Improves our relationships.
- Makes us more optimistic.
- Can help lower blood pressure, stop smoking, or lose weight.
You can greatly expedite these benefits by creating a formalized gratitude practice and there’s no better month than November to start. Your gratitude practice could include any number of things:
- Keeping a gratitude journal and listing at least one thing per day for which you are grateful.
- Sending one e-mail per day to thank somebody who has impacted your life.
- Praying or meditating daily with gratitude as a theme
If you’re stuck on how to begin a gratitude practice, there’s even an app for it.
As a professional organizer, gratitude is a key component to what I try to share with clients. A gratitude practice puts the focus on what you have as its simply not possible to be grateful for what you do not have.
Second when you start listing the things for which you are most grateful, you will notice something quite profound. You are far more likely to be grateful for the people and relationships in your life than any physical item. And that can make the act of removing items you never really needed that much easier–the key step to decluttering and bringing order to your household.
The year 2020 has been a challenge for all of us. This month, make gratitude a habit and watch how your life and well-being improve. Even during a year of turmoil like this one.
Need some assistance in decluttering your home or office? Give me a call at at 508-246-6120 or click on the button below to drop a line.
