Do You Want To Boost Your Productivity? Try A Little Gratitude!
See How Gratitude Improves Your Working Life
“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.” Marcus Tullius Cicero, Roman statesman, orator and writer.
Did you know that gratitude boosts productivity? A team of researchers at Wharton School found that a group of university fundraisers who were simply thanked and appreciated were 50 percent more productive than those who were not thanked.¹
Gratitude is so important that 79 percent of people cite lack of appreciation as the number one reason for quitting a job!²
Research shows that people who practice gratitude are happier and healthier than others, and they also have greater mental alertness, enthusiasm, and energy.
There are several ways to cultivate gratitude in your work and in life so that you can remain calm and positive, even when you dislike your job, or you feel stressed or discouraged.
Here are five small steps you can take towards infusing your work and life with gratitude.
1. Send Hand-Written Thank You Notes
Instead of just telling someone that you’re grateful to them, write a note, or give them a beautiful hand-written card. This makes your gesture more memorable and special.
According to Inc.com, it’s best to make these cards as specific as possible. Think about how this person helped you and why it matters. Perhaps he or she assisted you to get a raise or mentored you through a rough patch at work, for example.³
If you work in a customer service business, why not let your customers know how much you value their business by sending them thank you cards? Brandon Eley, the founder of 2BigFeet, has a goal of sending 1000 cards to his customers every year. He says that this works out to just four cards every weekday.⁴
2. Enjoy a Thank You Chat over Coffee
Buy a colleague coffee and have a chat about how grateful you are to them. Even if they only helped you in a small way, this makes them feel appreciated. Be careful though. If they are reserved, they could easily feel embarrassed!
This is also a great way to build friendships at work, and help create a positive and productive workplace. Even if office politics are toxic, and you dislike your boss, this will be an excellent start to improving the atmosphere. Hopefully, others will follow your example.
3. Introduce Thank You Thursday
If you can, make one day of the week a day to cultivate gratitude at work.
Ideas include holding a gratitude circle so that employees can share their feelings of gratitude, or just encouraging everyone to remember to appreciate and thank their colleagues. Make an announcement asking everyone to thank those who have helped them.
4. Keep a Gratitude Journal Every Day
Keep a gratitude journal and write down three things which you feel grateful for each day. Even on a bad day when you struggle to be thankful for anything, this will help you to stay positive and aware of your advantages. List simple things, such as a beautiful sunset or an enjoyable lunch with a good friend or colleague.
One study compared a group of people who kept gratitude journals with those who didn’t. After the ten-week comparison, the researchers found that those who kept the journals felt much more optimistic, and they also recorded higher levels of well-being, fewer distressing physical symptoms, and greater levels of physical activity.⁵
Many people start to keep gratitude journals, but give up after a short time. It helps to buy a specifically designed gratitude journal — there are several on the market, so it’s easy to choose one that you like.
Most of these journals have structured formats and don’t take up much time. Some only require a few words each day.
5. Practice Gratitude During the Day
Do you often long for the weekend? Perhaps, you’re feeling stressed or discouraged?
These are ideal times to remember why you’re grateful, and have a calming moment. Write a post-it note to yourself, and place it on your computer or desk, listing a few good times, or events which you’re looking forward to.
This is also a good suggestion during ‘Mondayitis’ when the thought of going back to work is often depressing. Think about what you like about your job and your friends at work before returning on Monday. Start your working week with a positive attitude to your life!
The Difference Between Gratitude and Appreciation
Sometimes, we’re grateful, but we find it difficult to truly appreciate our lives and other people.
According to Beliefnet.com: “…appreciation involves being more present — more thoughtfully aware and active in reflecting on the reasons we feel good about something or someone.”⁶
Appreciation usually means using the senses. For example, appreciating the look and fragrant smell of newly mown grass.
If we appreciate someone, such as a good friend, we think back through special memories and times shared with that person. We remember why they are such a great friend, and the difference that they’ve made in our lives.
Teacher and healer Maria Ewing writes that: “Gratitude and Appreciation are two of the most powerful emotions you can have and they are also the highest energy frequency there is.”⁷
Practice gratitude and appreciation at work and watch your productivity and job satisfaction increase.
References
¹ The Big Benefits of a Little Thanks
² The Evolution Of The Manager…And What It Means For You
³ This 1 Act of Gratitude Will Make Your Workplace Happier and More Productive
⁴ From Ideas to Action: 6 Creative Ways to Show Customers You Care
⁵ What’s the point of gratitude journals?
