Why College Students Should Practice Gratitude

With Thanksgiving a few days away, it’s the perfect time to talk about why it’s important to have a regular gratitude practice or “attitude of gratitude.” Being grateful has been found to boost your overall happiness and wellbeing — and there’s more. For those of you attending college while in addiction recovery, a gratitude practice can help enhance your academic experience and sober life. 

Here’s how: 

• You’ll improve your sleep. The pressures of school and rehab can take a big toll on your slumber. By counting your blessings instead of counting sheep, you’ll  relax your mind and body and fall asleep faster. 
• You’ll lessen anxiety and depression.  Anxiety and depression often co-occur with substance use disorders – and making gratitude a habit can help safeguard your mental health. Being thankful and focusing on the positives in life will strengthen your emotional resilience so you can better deal with any negative emotions that come your way.  
• You’ll be more productive. The practice of writing down what you’re grateful for can help you relax and focus on your recovery and schoolwork. Plus, gratitude has been linked with greater self-esteem and confidence, which certainly can’t hurt when you’re trying to tackling a tough assignment or deal with an intense craving. 
• You’ll have deeper friendships. A simple thank-you to someone you care about can go a long way in strengthening your relationship. After all, doesn’t everyone want to feel appreciated? It could also help you make new friends; for instance, a simple thank-you text to a classmate that helped you study. 

Grateful for a Sober Life

When you trust us with your recovery, you don’t have to leave college behind or put career preparation on hold. We offer vocational training, college prep, and sobriety college options that allow you to pursue your dreams while you get clean. To learn more, call today: 866-930-4673. 

How to Practice Gratitude

As you celebrate Thanksgiving week, consider this: Research shows that giving thanks and feeling grateful doesn't just make you feel good, it also helps your overall health. Better sleep, reduced stress, fewer aches and pains, less toxic emotions, and more resilience are just a few of the many benefits experience by grateful people. 

Acknowledging and expressing gratitude for the small blessings in life will also help you on your journey toward addiction recovery. It will build your self-esteem, boost your outlook, and remind you that a sober life is well worth fighting for. 

Perhaps the best part: Developing an "attitude of gratitude" can be fairly simple. Here are a few tips to get you started.

1. Start a gratitude journal and write in it for 15 minutes each night before lights out. 
2. Call a loved one and express how much he or she means to you.
3. Take a walk and take in the beauty of nature.
4. Perform a small act of kindness for someone else – hold the door open for a stranger or write a thank-you note to a co-worker who has helped you in the past.
5. Make an effort to replace negative thoughts with positive ones, or take it a step further and designate a “no-complaining” day once a week.
6. Help others who are less fortunate than you by volunteering.
7. Meditate and refer to your gratitude list, giving thanks to all of the small gifts in life.
8. Cut out pictures of the things or people for which you are grateful and make a collage.
9. Share your gratitude via social media. Post a tweet, Facebook post or photo on Pinterest or Instagram.
10. Practice gratitude at the same time each day to make it a habit. For instance, begin dinner by giving thanks each night – not just on Thanksgiving! 

Finding Emotional Support at Hope Academy
A host of emotions inevitably arise as you begin working toward your sobriety goals. The professionals at Hope Academy can teach you to manage these feelings without resorting to substance abuse. To learn more, call 866-930-4673.