How Gratitude Increases Productivity and Success

As we move through our day, we are constantly looking for ways to be more productive. Most tend to focus on efficiency in the form of time management and effectiveness, etc. Though these can improve efficiency, they don’t necessarily make your life better or sustain high levels of productivity. 

Start With Yourself

Starting with yourself, you can improve your attitude, and guard against burnout. Starting your day with gratitude, no matter how small, can have a huge impact on your day. Giving and receiving gratitude releases endorphins in the body and therefore raises energy. When incorporated into your daily routine, showing and having gratitude can improve your life and your productivity. 

Many studies have shown that those practicing gratitude made further progress toward their goals than those that were not. It’s also shown to have a positive impact on your health and happiness at home and in the workplace. Showing gratitude toward others can inspire those to also show gratitude. 

Benefits of Practicing Gratitude

Of course, during this time of year, showing gratitude is encouraged, but did you know there were more benefits than you realized to showing gratitude? Let’s go through some of them. 

Helps manage stress and improve health

Showing gratitude toward others or being grateful has been shown to reduce the occurrence of common physical issues such as headaches, stomach aches, and congestion. It also has a positive effect on your general well-being and relief of stress. 

If there was something so easy you could do to relieve some of the common pain you have without medication and hospital visits, wouldn’t you try it? I may just work for you. (Not a guarantee, nor medical advice)

Improve your overall attitude

The mind is a fickle thing, focusing on the negative at regular intervals (or when you just want to relax). Practicing gratitude can disrupt the flow of negative energy and shift to a more positive air. A little thanks goes a long way, not just in your life, but in the person you’re thanking as well. 

When life gets hectic, it’s easy to forget about the wonders of life. Taking time to reflect on things you’re grateful for in your life is a great way to boost happiness in your life. It can change your demeanor to be more proactive. 

When you practice gratitude, it makes you and others feel good. In turn can improve productivity, engagement, and connections with family, friends, employees, and more. It can make employees feel more valued and can boost job satisfaction. 

Improve ability to cope with challenges and focus

It’s natural to feel ungrateful when you’re facing something frustrating or challenging. That’s when you need gratitude the most. Shifting focus from things that frustrate you to those you are grateful for will give you a different perspective on work and life. It ensures that when challenges arise, you have the ability to cope with them as productively and positively as possible. 

Gratitude and Work

You and Work

Your work is where you spend quite a bit of your time. The way you describe and talk about work impacts your performance and satisfaction. What you tell yourself is how you experience the work. 

Have you ever heard that when you tell yourself or hear something repeatedly, you begin to believe it? It’s the same way with your work. If you talk about your work negatively in repeated successions, your attitude toward work will be negative. 

Here is a way to help you change that perspective: When you get to work each day, tell yourself one thing you’re grateful for related to work. This will give you a positive outlook on work and brighten your day. 

You and Employees/colleagues 

When you show your employees that you are grateful for them and what they do, it gives them a sense of appreciation and accomplishment. Those employees/colleagues invest most of their time and selves into their work without receiving more than a paycheck. Over time this leads to a lack of motivation and performance.

So, let your employees/colleagues know that they are doing well and that you appreciate them. Their attitude and performance will change over time. 

Gratitude Disablers

Those that struggle with showing gratitude have some disablers they are fighting. Whether it’s worrying about your image, a mental sign of weakness, or some other reason, we all have times when we would rather do anything else than talk or communicate with others. 

As we’ve learned above, fighting that compulsion to ignore gratitude can greatly increase your well-being, happiness, and productivity.

Ways to practice gratitude

I’m sure you know ways to be grateful and show gratitude, but if you need some ideas, I’ve listed some below. 

General

• Keep a Gratitude journal
  • list 2-3 things you’re grateful for each day/ good things that happened to you/or your did today
• Give words of encouragement with your thanks. 
• Look around for things that bring joy where there is a pause in your day
  • Stopped at a red light/crosswalk
  • On break at work
  • A moment to stretch
  • A pause in a movie
• Send a card or small gift just because
• Buy a box of “thank you” cards and send them out regularly
• Make a habit of telling people that you appreciate them
• Give those who don’t get thanked often a handwritten card/letter. 
• Call or visit family members/friends and let them know you appreciate the positive impact they’ve had on your life. 

Work/Career

• Tell a client why you enjoy working worth hen as much as you do.
• Find ways to discuss what you appreciate about your colleagues
• Make it an organizational value and habit

Final Thoughts

To see the benefits of showing gratitude, it must be practiced regularly. It’s one of the easiest things you can do to become healthier, happier, and more productive in your life and work. So, why not give it a try? Has practicing gratitude helped you? Tell us in the comments!