Practicing gratitude and giving back to others makes us feel good, but did you know it may also help support your emotional and physical health?

Studies show that practicing gratitude can increase a person’s happiness, promote good sleep, and support positive self-esteem. Being thankful may also help to lower blood pressure and improve immune function!

Recognizing and appreciating the things in our daily lives that we often take for granted, such as our families, jobs, homes, health, or the food we eat, can give us a boost of positive energy and help us become more resilient when facing life’s challenges.

Feeling grateful can also inspire us to give back to others, which not only has a positive effect on the receiver, but the giver as well. Whether you volunteer at a food bank or help a friend in need, research suggests that selfless acts of giving produce health benefits similar to those of practicing gratitude. In addition, givers often experience a “helper’s high,” an increase in positive emotions that follow selfless acts of service to others.

Practicing daily acts of gratitude and kindness can be simple and fun. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Donate to a local food pantry
• Serve a meal at a homeless shelter
• Clean out your closets and donate items to charity
• Donate old towels or blankets to an animal shelter
• Keep a daily gratitude journal
• Focus on the positives
• Show someone you care with a kind word or deed
• Say thank you for even the little things people do for you

Gratitude and kindness don’t have to be reserved for the holidays. Practicing these qualities throughout the year can help improve your life, and the lives of those around you. At Wegmans, we are thankful for our customers, whose support allows us to give more and do more to improve the lives of our neighbors.