Spreading gratitude in the workplace

Gratitude is a word that can often be both over-used and overlooked. But this simple word can be powerful in our personal and professional lives.

You might think of gratitude as simply saying “thank you”, but it is much more than this. It is an attitude and disposition which can have a positive impact on our wellbeing, relationships, and overall outlook on life.

Having a grateful mindset can promote mental wellbeing, helping us to shift our focus away from negativity. This in turn, brings higher levels of happiness and lower symptoms of depression. When we express gratitude towards our friends, family, and colleagues, it fosters deeper connections and can help bring about lasting relationships. When life gets difficult and full of challenges, gratitude can help us bounce back from these stressful moments and help to build up our resilience.

But how does one begin to practice gratitude? A good place to start is through keeping a gratitude journal. Writing down a few things you are grateful for each day. You could split this up and write a few at the start of your day and then a few at the end. Something as simple as “I’m grateful for a new day” or “I’m grateful to have my morning coffee” can be a really good start.

In the workplace, don’t be afraid to express your appreciation to your coworkers or supervisors. Acknowledging their efforts, whether big or small, can go a long way in making their day as well as your own.

Performing small random acts of kindness can also be a wonderful way to express your gratitude. You can bring in treats to share, offer to help a colleague with a task, leave a little uplifting note at someone’s desk - anything you feel that could help make someone’s day better.

When you begin to live with more gratitude, you may find that others start to follow your lead. Gratitude, when practised authentically is infectious and helps to create ripples which can have a positive impact on the entire workplace.

So why not make it your goal this week to practise living with more gratitude and see what it can do for you?