5 Reasons Why Gratitude is Good For Your Health

The science behind why showing your gratitude with a thank you card, will make you feel physically and mentally better in 2017.

The start of the year is all about healthy new beginnings, which is why we’re sending out free sets of thank you cards to spread some healthy positivity to everyone this year. Read all about why showing your gratitude with a thank you card, will make you feel physically and mentally better in 2017.

1. Gratitude makes you more likely to exercise.

Over 11 weeks, a group taken from 96 people (the rest were a control) were asked to keep a gratitude journal. Those who kept the journal, exercised for an average of 40 minutes more per week that the group that didn’t keep the journal. Some have drawn the conclusion, that being more grateful for having your health, would make you more likely to want to maintain it by exercising and eating well.

2. Gratitude improves physical health.

In 2012, a journal called Personality and Individual Differences published a study that concluded that people who practice gratitude towards others and their own situation often had fewer aches and pains and felt healthier than their less grateful counterparts.

3. Gratitude improves psychological health.

Robert A. Emmons, Ph.D., is a leading gratitude researcher and many of his studies have proven the link between gratitude and well-being. His research confirms that gratitude effectively increases happiness and reduces depression because being thankful in life counteracts many other negative emotions such as jealousy, resentment, regret, anger and frustration.

4. Gratitude reduces aggression.

The University of Kentucky undertook a study in 2012 that proved that people who practice gratitude are more likely to behave in a sociable manner and less likely to behave unkindly or antisocially towards others. Those who showed high levels of gratitude were less likely to attack others or even react in a disproportionately harsh way toward others when they were given criticism. They were also less likely to feel vengeful when wronged or hold grudges.

5. Gratitude is good for your sleep patterns.

A study that was published in Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being concluded that gratitude improved peoples’ sleep patterns, making them longer and better, especially when people practised gratitude or listed what they’re grateful for just before bed.

Fancy feeling a lot healthier this year? Sign up for this free set of Thank You cards, we’ll send them to you and you can get writing!

The Fresh Times brings you stories from our HelloFresh family all over the world. This story was originally published on our UK blog: blog.hellofresh.co.uk