Practical Ways Seniors Can Cultivate Gratitude

Although Thanksgiving is traditionally the holiday that celebrates gratitude, being grateful doesn’t need to be limited to just one day. Numerous studies have shown the correlation between practicing gratitude and experiencing greater happiness, no matter the circumstances. In one study, participants who wrote about gratitude felt more optimistic and better about their lives than their counterparts who wrote about daily irritations. 

Consistently cultivating gratitude improves sleep, reduces pain, enhances memory, enriches relationships, and promotes better physical health. In as little as five minutes a day, you too can cultivate more gratitude in your life and begin to enjoy these benefits. Here are five practical ways seniors can cultivate a more profound sense of gratitude.

Morning Coffee Gratitude 

Start your day off right with a cup of coffee and a quiet moment of reflection. As you sip your coffee, count your blessings. Look around your home for inspiration. As you hold your coffee mug, feel gratitude for the warmth of the mug, the flavor of your coffee, the quietness of the morning, and the new day full of hope and possibility. By spending the first few minutes of your day in a state of gratitude, you can change the outlook of your entire day ahead. 

Gratitude Journal 

Start a gratitude journal to keep an account of your blessings. It can be as simple as a notebook where you list three things that happened today that made you grateful. As you practice this exercise regularly, you’ll start to see your day through a different lens. You’ll also start seeing blessings all around you and start appreciating life’s big and small blessings. The purpose of this exercise is to keep your mind attuned to what’s happening throughout your day and to find joy in each of those moments. 

Visualize Gratitude 

We all need reminders in order to manage our day-to-day lives. Do you have any reminders around your home that trigger gratitude? If not, consider purchasing a few visual cues to remind you to be grateful. As our nation celebrates Thanksgiving this month, there are many small signs about gratitude currently available in stores. Other visual cues include displaying pictures of friends and family or special events, hanging artwork from grandchildren in a visible area, or showcasing a special object that holds meaning to you. 

Write a Note of Appreciation 

Give the gift of appreciation by writing a letter to someone significant in your life. We live in an age where handwritten letters are few and far between. Write a letter to a dear friend or family member and express your gratitude for their life. Share how they’ve touched your life and give specific examples. Remind them that you care for them and that they are important to you. Your letter will be cherished for years to come. This is a great gift to give someone on their birthday, especially for seniors who may desire to write a letter to all of their children or grandchildren. 

Pay It Forward

Finally, cultivate gratitude by paying it forward to others. Lead the way and be an inspiration to those around You can effect change amongst your own family and be an example to future generations. Pay it forward by buying the customer’s coffee order behind you in line. Pay it forward by letting someone go ahead of you in line at the grocery store. Pay it forward by donating to a local food bank or shelter. Pay it forward by being the first person to smile or say “hello.” Blessing someone first lets you experience the gift of giving instead of it feeling reciprocal.

Speaking of gratitude, Visiting Angels Sarasota would like to thank our current clients for choosing us as their trusted referral source for independent professional caregivers. Our mission is to put seniors in touch with the care they need to remain independent at home. Our locally owned and operated referral registry is committed to bettering the lives of local seniors. The caregivers we refer can customize the care they provide to fit individual needs; they are beneficial to nearly any lifestyle. Whether your loved one needs assistance daily or weekly, long-term or temporarily, during the day or overnight, we can refer you to trained, thoroughly vetted, dedicated caregivers to fit your needs. To learn more, please get in touch with us today by calling 941-952-5800.