Thanksgiving should not be the only time of the year to reflect and be thankful for all the wonderful blessings in your life. 

Amazingly, there are several scientific proofs that being grateful can do wonders for you.

Below are science-backed reasons why you should integrate gratitude in your day-to-day life:

Write Down What You Are Thankful For

Scientists did an experiment where they asked a group of people to write down weekly the things they are thankful for.

Another group was asked to take note of stressful and negative events in their life.

The group who kept gratitude journals reported fewer physical symptoms, exercised more regularly, and felt good about their lives as a whole.

Compared to the other group who focused primarily on negative things, those who kept a gratitude journal were more optimistic.

Starting today: At the end of your day, write down one wonderful thing that happened to you during the day in your gratitude journal.

A Single Act of Gratitude Can Go a Long Way

Scientists that study positive psychology discovered that a single act of thoughtful gratitude produced an instant 10% increase in happiness and 35% reduction in depressive symptoms.

The happy effect eventually disappeared after three to six months.

This shows that gratitude is an act that is best repeated over and over again.

Starting today: Each act of gratitude matters. Even an act as small as saying “Thank You,” or telling someone how much they mean to you.

It Is Never Too Soon to Practice Gratitude

Researcher and psychologist Jeffrey Froh designed and implemented a gratitude curriculum for children aged 8 to 11.

The kids who received the lessons indicated an increase in positive emotions, appreciation, and grateful thinking compared to others who did not participate in the curriculum.

Starting today: Introduce the idea of gratitude to young people you know. The next time you have your meal where kids are present, have everyone say something they are thankful for. The answers might just surprise and move you!

Gratitude Can Enhance Your Romantic Relationships

While being grateful can do wonders for you, being on the receiving end of gratitude can do magical things for your romantic relationship.

A recent study discovered that after receiving gratitude, partners have become more responsive to the needs of their significant others. 

They also reported feeling more satisfied with the relationship overall.

Starting today: While mornings can be hectic for most couples, make it a point to quickly tell your partner how much you care about them before leaving the house.

Gratitude is Great for Business

When was the last time you said thank you to a coworker?

Based on a research done by psychologist Francesca Gino and Adam Grant revealed that a simple thank you can go a really long way.

This is especially true if you are in a supervisory position.

Expressing your gratitude for a job well done can give your employees a strong sense of confidence and self-worth. 

The study also revealed that gratitude has a ripple effect that leads to an increase of trust between employees.

It also helps employees become more encouraged to help their co-workers out.

Starting today: Make it a point to acknowledge a colleague for their professional contributions to the company with a heartfelt and genuine thank you.

Over to You

Now that you know all the amazing (and science-backed) benefits of gratitude, ensure you should never go a day without it. Gratitude has also been known to help you with your manifesting efforts so it makes perfect sense to make it a part of your daily life.