It’s a lesson that children are taught from a young age, but it’s no less important at age 40 as it is at age four. Remember to say thank you! It may sound like a trite suggestion at first, but a little bit of gratitude in life can make a major difference.
Of course, thankfulness is a state of mind that isn’t always easy to find. Existence is chock full of challenges, tribulations, and setbacks that have the potential to leave even the most optimistic of individuals feeling cynical and jaded. Still, time and time again it’s been shown that when we allow a little bit of gratitude into our lives, it pays off big time – both for ourselves and the people around us. One study published in the scientific journal Review of Communication reports expressing gratitude is linked to upticks in both psychological and physiological well being.
Meanwhile, another research initiative released in Spirituality in Clinical Practice even suggests a grateful heart is a healthier heart, literally. Researchers say taking the time to recognize and appreciate the good in life can be a boon for one’s cardiovascular health. Of course, being thankful is hardly just about ourselves. Consider this study, published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. Researchers found that when two partners express gratitude and appreciation to one another on a regular basis, it’s conducive to a stronger, more resilient relationship.
What about the workplace? While expressions of sentimentality are generally frowned upon in places of business, adopting a more grateful demeanor on the job is no different than any other life area. Positivity is infectious, and just a single person bringing a bit more gratitude into the office promotes a healthier work environment for everyone.
Consider a gratitude journal
While the idea of keeping a journal as an adult may seem like you’re suddenly back in middle school, taking a few moments each day to jot down what you’re grateful for can help foster a more welcoming workplace. A study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology found that workers who keep a gratitude journal are far less likely to be rude or mistreat coworkers.
As much as we all would like to believe such behaviors disappear by the time one leaves the playground, toxic habits like bullying, gossip, and ostracisation remain quite common in offices and boardrooms across the country. This project tells us gratitude journals are a simple means of encouraging more civil, friendly interactions between colleagues.
Gratitude = burnout buster?
The next time you see a colleague stressing over a tough project, or simply notice a coworker has done a great job on a specific task, perhaps take a minute and thank them for their effort and dedication. It’s a small gesture, but sometimes that’s all it takes to turn around someone’s day.
No profession is more familiar with burnout than nurses. The collective backbone of hospitals and ERs everywhere, nurses are routinely tasked with working excessive hours in high pressure situations. To put it simply, being a nurse can feel like a thankless job at times. Well, research published in the Journal of Positive Psychology tells us that when a group of nurses were thanked more often on the job, it predicted improved sleep, less headaches, healthier dietary decisions, and higher levels of job satisfaction among the RNs.
Coworkers and cardiovascular response
About to begin an especially stressful new task with your team? Before getting started, take a second and thank everyone for the work they’re about to perform. Eye-opening research published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General reports that when teammates or colleagues thank each other before embarking on a difficult, high-stress task together, that extra little bit of gratitude appears to result in a stronger cardiovascular response in comparison to other workers who did not thank each other prior to getting started.
Put in a less technical manner, expressions of gratitude help workers cope with and better respond to stressful situations. The subsequent improved cardiovascular response promotes stronger concentration, higher confidence levels, and better work performances all around.
Breaking a bad boss
Overbearing, toxic bosses are troublingly common in the corporate sphere, but a noteworthy study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology suggests approaching bad managers with kindness and gratitude is one method of cooling down tense work situations.
Researchers explain that when people in positions of power feel incompetent or challenged, they often talk down to colleagues as a means of compensating for their own insecurities. Meeting that negativity with appreciation for the manager quells any doubts they may have about themselves, resulting in more pleasant interactions.
Gratitude reception and physical health: Examining the mediating role of satisfaction with patient care in a sample of acute care nurses
Gratitude expressions improve teammates’ cardiovascular stress responses
Power, defensive denigration, and the assuaging effect of gratitude expression
Be a good boss to yourself
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