Students face numerous pressures on a daily basis, making them stressed and anxious as they go on with their days. Feeling this weight of anxiety can cause mood changes and unwelcome thoughts in the brain. It can be easy to busy up your schedule and try not to worry about what you have ahead of you. Taking breaks and time to rest your brain is important to the constant feeling of racing thoughts and continuous stress.
Most students have a lot on their plates with homework, tests, and extracurriculars. In this generation, social media has a grab on most people’s attention causing stress in their minds and thoughts. Practicing gratitude helps students handle stress by shifting their focus from what’s overwhelming to what’s going well. When the feeling of being overwhelmed is too much to handle, “gratitude helps balance that out” and keeps you on track with the good things in your life, according to Viviana McGovern.
It is important to ground yourself and keep away from the pressure of the world. Adding daily gratitude into your mornings or nights “can help you feel less stressed, more motivated, and more grounded when things get tough.”
Practicing daily gratitude helps your mind focus on the positives instead of the negatives of life. Regularly noticing things, you appreciate can reduce stress, improve moods, and create a sense of balance. Focusing on stress and anxiety increases a sense of burnout and fatigue.
Starting the habit of gratitude daily can be challenging, so start small. Try practicing gratitude once or twice a week, then slowly add more days as it becomes easier. It can start with something as small as grabbing a notebook and writing down three things you’re grateful for is simple and quick.
If you don’t have time to write them down, you can simply say it out loud to get a general reminder of what you’re grateful to have in your life. More habits can be telling someone or multiple people that you’re grateful for them. This can not only bring a smile to your face but somebody else’s. Feeling this gratitude from someone else can motivate others to push gratitude and thankfulness on the people they surround themself with. Continuing this practice of these small actions “can build up and make a real difference” Viviana McGovern.
Starting your morning with gratitude is the perfect way to get your mind to focus on the positives rather than the negative. Even when things in your life aren’t going how you want, gratitude can help you identify the good in your life. After starting her morning with daily gratitude Mimi has realized that “appreciating everything from the little to the big things I definitely felt more joyful” Mimi Rechin. Overall, practicing gratitude daily helps create a more positive mindset, encourages presence, and allows people to find more joyful moments.
