How Gratitude Can Boost Productivity at Work
It’s no secret that showing gratitude is good for you. Despite this fact, in today’s fast paced society, we can find it hard to get into this positive mental space. Many people can often find they compare themselves to others or are constantly worrying about the next project deadline. There is no denying that feeling grateful can make you feel good, but sometimes this might only be for a short while. We wanted to find out if introducing daily gratitude into our lives can change the course of our time at work.
What if taking five minutes out of our hectic day to practice gratitude makes us more productive, happier and successful? If instead of procrastinating on social media, being more mindful of the present moment can make all the difference?
Gratitude at work
Expressing gratitude has been shown to create positive shifts at the office. It has been proven in a study from the University of Pennsylvania that expressing gratitude to your fellow colleagues creates a positive cycle where the person showing thankfulness feels good, and the person being appreciated does too. Basically, it’s a win-win for everyone involved! It’s very easy to pick up and focus on the negatives, making gratitude an afterthought, but failing to show this act of thankfulness can impact job satisfaction and productivity.
Gratitude in action
In a bid to help make gratitude a priority in the workday, we have compiled a list of different ways to be more grateful throughout daily life:
- Start a gratitude journal. Treat yourself to a new notepad and write down five things you’re grateful for that day and why. Writing these things down is proven to instantly increase positivity, improve confidence and reduces stress. Go on, give it a go – you won’t regret it!
- Give back. Stop and give a homeless person some lunch. Or stop and help the person on the tube struggling with their suitcase. These small, random acts of kindness can make all the difference. Doing something for someone else without an expectation of getting something back can be a very positive thing.
- Say thank you. When the train arrives on time and you’re in a rush, think about how grateful you are for that moment. Go out of your way to thank the waiter for their service. When you start to be grateful for the little things, not just grand gestures, your perspective on life will change for the better.
If you start introducing these practices into your daily routines you’ll be well on your way to having a more positive outlook on life! At Areaworks, we encourage positivity throughout all our coworking office spaces as we truly believe this makes for a better work environment for all our members. In our Hackney branch, we have a gratitude wall where our members are free to write down what they are grateful for. From being grateful for unlimited free coffee to living in London and everything in between, our members have the right idea when it comes to gratitude.
If you want to join our positive Areaworks family, book a no obligation tour to view any of our spaces. We will be grateful to show you around! 🙂
