Gratitude IN WELLNESS
HEALTHY MINDSET TIPS • Start the day peacefully.
Give yourself enough time to complete your morning routine. • Take a moment to set the day’s intentions, focusing on what you are grateful for. • Make time for movement. • Avoid over-scheduling your day. Use a calendar to block out time for tasks. • Be helpful and supportive to those around you. • Nourish your body and find joy in preparing meals. • Extend grace to yourself and others. • End the day with gratitude, just as you started it. THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF NEGATIVITY Living in a constant state of unease or discontent can negatively affect the body. Be mindful of the self-talk you allow. Do not let negative thoughts control your day. No matter how challenging things may seem, there is always something to be grateful for—you just have to look. Neuroscience experts have found that our brains are wired to focus on negative information, likely as a way to remember pain and avoid it in the future. This is known as “negative bias.” To counteract this natural tendency, we should make a daily practice of expressing gratitude.
BY MARTA SHAND
W hat is the connection between gratitude and wellness? My conclusion, as I sat down to write this article, was a simple one: to be content is to be grateful. In fact, I would go so far as to say that gratitude promotes contentment, leading to a healthier outlook—and a healthy outlook positively impacts the physical body. When we feel content in our current space, we can truly appreciate the world around us. However, how many of us can say we experience this regularly? We often fall into the trap of feeling discontent. Many of us exist in a constant state of striving, either looking ahead to what we want or worrying about what we think the future might bring. Becoming aware and present can be the answer, grounding us and helping to maintain our mind and body in a state of homeostasis. Cultivating a healthy mindset should be a goal we set for ourselves.
“GRATITUDE TURNS WHAT WE HAVE INTO ENOUGH.” - Author Unknown
Marta Shand | Beaumont Unified School District Marta Shand is an advocate for wellness and promotes healthy habits to her students, staff and community. She has spent 24 years holding management positions in the field of Nutrition including time in both Healthcare and School Nutrition settings. Currently a Director of Child Nutrition Services at Beaumont Unified School District where she is committed to expanding the Nutrition Advisory Council (NAC) Classes and the Student Wellness Committees. Marta Shand holds a BS in Dietetics and has been awarded the Health Advocate Award by Coachella Valley Health Collaborative.
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