5 Quick and Simple Ways to Reduce Caregiver Stress Through Gratitude

Gratitude is a quick and easy way to reduce caregiver stress

A quick, easy, and effective way to reduce caregiver stress is to practice gratitude.

Gratitude is about noticing that there are some good things in your life, no matter how difficult things get.

Calling attention to the positive things helps you shift perspective and see that things are not always completely horrible.

It doesn’t matter if you do it for 2 seconds or 5 minutes, adding gratitude to your life is an effective way to reduce stress, protect from burnout, and improve health and quality of life.

To make it easier to find a technique that works for you, try some suggestions from Lifehack’s fantastic list of 40 quick and simple ways to add gratitude into everyday life.

Here, we share our top 5 picks from the list that are especially helpful for caregivers.

5 top ways to add gratitude to your day

1. Keep a gratitude journal and add to it when you can – ideally once a day
2. Notice the beauty in nature each day – even if you can’t take a quick walk outside, looking out the window is a way to refresh your senses
3. Avoid negative media and movies with destructive content – life is stressful enough, try not to add extra negativity to your day
4. When you think a negative thought, try to see the positive side in the situation – flip it around to play “devil’s advocate” and explain why it’s not that bad
5. Post quotes and images that remind you to be grateful around your house – something as simple as writing your favorite quote or even just “You’re awesome and you’ve got this” on a post-it note and sticking it on your bathroom mirror can give you a boost

Next Step  Get 40 simple ideas for noticing the positive things in life and reducing caregiver stress at Lifehack

Recommended for you:

• 14 Practical Ways to Relieve Caregiver Stress
• 8 Ways to Relieve Caregiver Anxiety and Improve Well-Being
• 3 Ways to Prevent Caregiver Stress and Burnout

By DailyCaring Editorial Team
Image: My Journey Journal

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About the Author

Connie Chow

Connie was a hands-on caregiver for her grandmother for 20 years. (Grandma made it to 101 years old!) She knows how challenging, overwhelming, and all-consuming caring for an older adult can be. She also knows how important support is — especially in the form of practical solutions, valuable resources, and self-care tips.