Thanksgiving is a time to take stock and reflect on what we feel thankful for and it feels good. If it feels good why would you limit that to just one day a year? Feeling thankful is a key to happiness, and it’s also good for your physical health. I admit, it can be hard to feel thankful when you’re having a bad day, or things are not going the way you want them to, but you can work on it and in the end you’ll feel happier and healthier. Here are some tips to get you started:

1. Journal. Keep a journal and write down five things every day that you are thankful for. It gets easier as you do it!
2. Acknowledge the negative. Life includes some negative, too, and being thankful doesn’t mean you should ignore that. Rather, recognize it and acknowledge that it’s there, but don’t focus on it.
3. Spend time with loved ones. Being with the people you love definitely gives you something to be thankful for.
4. Recognize small things. We take a lot for granted, but you’ll feel thankful when you notice the small things.
5. Volunteer. Doing good for others will make you thankful for what you have.
6. Exercise. This one somehow finds its way into every list! But exercise will get those feel-good hormones flowing.
7. Practice mindfulness. Focus on the present; don’t feel bad about the past or worry about the future. Be present and enjoy it.
8. Control your thoughts. It takes practice, but with a little work you can learn not to dwell on upsetting things.
9. No comparing. Do not compare yourself to others!
10. Words. Use positive vocabulary.
11. Be inspired. Motivational and inspirational articles and sayings can have a huge affect on your mood.
12. Say “thank you.” Say it often and see how it starts to affect the way you feel.
13. Give compliments. Spreading positivity and good feeling will make you feel more thankful, too.
14. Learn from difficult situations. Life is not perfect, and you will experience some bad stuff. Instead of letting it take you under, think about what you can learn from it to make your life better in the long run.

As you practice you’ll learn to appreciate the small things and realize that life is a blessing- which will make you calm and happy in the long run!