3 WAYS TO PRACTICE GRATITUDE Did you know that being grateful is actually good for your health? It’s true! We all love Thanksgiving for the excellent food, football, and time spent with family, but truthfully, this holiday means much more. Practicing gratitude can lead to greater happiness all year long. According to Harvard Health Publishing, “Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.” If you want to implement more gratitude in your own life, take a look at these 3 tips.
1. Write thank you letters
Remember writing thank you letters? How long has it been since you wrote one? You don’t need to have a wedding, graduation, or other big life event to thank the people in your life. Try writing thank you letters to your friends and family for the little things– you’ll be surprised at how good it feels!
3. Use visual reminders
It can be hard to remember to practice gratitude. With your hectic schedule, sometimes it can feel impossible to sit down, take a moment to breathe, and reflect on your blessings. Visual cues can be a great tool for reminding us to take a beat. Something as simple as sticky notes, a poster, or even your home screen on your phone or laptop can help us remember to slow down and shift to a positive mindset.
2. Write down what you are grateful for everyday
This might sound intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be! Take a few minutes each morning or evening to write down at least 3 things that you are grateful for in your life. This repeated action helps us shift into a more positive mindset and can help fight symptoms of depression and anxiety. POSTURE TIPS FOR STUDENTS Do you have difficulty standing or sitting up straight? Do you find yourself slouching over your laptop hours into your homework? We’ve all heard the words “sit up straight” before. But are you aware of how important your posture actually is? Your spine is meant to operate in a specific way. Each time you move, sit, or stand in ways that disrupt your spine’s correct position and operation, you can end up creating long- term problems.
Sources: https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/giving-thanks-can-make-you-happier
Adjust your backpack
If your back is hurting, your backpack may be to blame. The gap between your back and your backpack is one factor that stresses your back and, as a result, damages your posture. To correct this, adjust your backpack handles so that they are as close to your back as possible in order to prevent your spine from curving excessively.
Watch your head
Laptops, tablets, and cell phones can all encourage Forward Head Posture (FHP). When viewed from the side, optimal posture is when the earlobe is relatively vertical to the center of the shoulder. When the head is positioned forward of the shoulders, this is referred to as FHP. FHP has a negative impact on the spine and should be avoided as much as possible. We know it can be hard to monitor your posture while you’re deep in the studying zone, but try to take short breaks to check in with your body and avoid FHP.
Take breaks
Are you the type of person to sit down for hours to power through your assignments? While this certainly reflects a good work ethic, it can actually damage your upper and lower back. A major cause of back pain is the inactivation of the glutes, which happens when you sit for long periods. Take 5-10 minute breaks every 30 minutes to walk around, stretch, and activate your muscles.
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