Wellness
9 Unique Ways to Practice Gratitude
Share
If you’re like me, you’ve participated in your fair share of gratitude challenges, lists, and journals. I’ve found lists and journals difficult to stick to because it’s hard to see any impact as a result of my actions.
On the other hand, some studies show the deep and lasting benefits of approaching our lives from a grateful perspective—so we should probably be practicing gratitude in some way, shouldn’t we?
I’ve found the most powerful way to see results from a grateful mindset is to take those words off the paper and into the real world. Rather than simply writing down what I’m grateful for, I try to help others, connect with my community, and intentionally reflect on my blessings.
Check out these nine ways you can practice gratitude through action:
Make time to volunteer.
Volunteering connects us to other people, takes us out of our comfort zone, and helps us appreciate the things we have. Whether you choose to help with meals at a local shelter or help a friend move, gifting your time is a valuable way to bless others.
1
Make time to volunteer.
Volunteering connects us to other people, takes us out of our comfort zone, and helps us appreciate the things we have. Whether you choose to help with meals at a local shelter or help a friend move, gifting your time is a valuable way to bless others.
Do an act of kindness.
Even the tiniest acts of kindness can cheer up someone else’s day, along with your own. Try paying for someone else’s coffee, picking up something someone dropped, or holding the door and sharing a smile.
2
Do an act of kindness.
Even the tiniest acts of kindness can cheer up someone else’s day, along with your own. Try paying for someone else’s coffee, picking up something someone dropped, or holding the door and sharing a smile.
Take a tech sabbath.
Technology is a part of our everyday life, but it’s also been shown to increase stress and anxiety. Commit to a time every week where you completely disconnect. I personally put my phone on airplane mode every Sunday and am intentional in spending the day, unplugged, with my family and friends.
3
Take a tech sabbath.
Technology is a part of our everyday life, but it’s also been shown to increase stress and anxiety. Commit to a time every week where you completely disconnect. I personally put my phone on airplane mode every Sunday and am intentional in spending the day, unplugged, with my family and friends.
Say “thank you.”
Go out of your way to really say thank you to someone. Instead of just saying the words, make an effort to tell them that you appreciated what they did, how it helped you, and that they did a great job. Extra grateful? Try writing a thank you note!
4
Say “thank you.”
Go out of your way to really say thank you to someone. Instead of just saying the words, make an effort to tell them that you appreciated what they did, how it helped you, and that they did a great job. Extra grateful? Try writing a thank you note!
Create a gratitude collage.
Imagine if your gratitude journal and vision board had a baby that gave you all the warm and fuzzies. Grab a friend, a pile of magazines, and create a visual representation of all the things you’re grateful for.
5
Create a gratitude collage.
Imagine if your gratitude journal and vision board had a baby that gave you all the warm and fuzzies. Grab a friend, a pile of magazines, and create a visual representation of all the things you’re grateful for.
Write a positive review for a small business.
Did you know that online reviews of a small business can completely make or break their success? If you’ve had an amazing experience with a small business, anything from a restaurant to a fitness studio, take a few minutes to write a Yelp, Facebook, or Google review. It’s guaranteed to make the owners smile.
6
Write a positive review for a small business.
Did you know that online reviews of a small business can completely make or break their success? If you’ve had an amazing experience with a small business, anything from a restaurant to a fitness studio, take a few minutes to write a Yelp, Facebook, or Google review. It’s guaranteed to make the owners smile.
Bring a friend a meal.
We’ve all had a friend that went through a hard time, and you couldn’t figure out how to help them. I encourage you to drop off a meal for them. Ask them if they have any allergies or aversions, and bring them something good to eat. The key to anyone’s heart is a good meal, and you’re sure to feel amazing afterward, too.
7
Bring a friend a meal.
We’ve all had a friend that went through a hard time, and you couldn’t figure out how to help them. I encourage you to drop off a meal for them. Ask them if they have any allergies or aversions, and bring them something good to eat. The key to anyone’s heart is a good meal, and you’re sure to feel amazing afterward, too.
Pause before you eat.
Take a few seconds before meals to reflect on the fact that you have access to delicious, nourishing food. Whether it’s saying grace with your family, or a few moments of quiet meditation, reflecting on the joys of a delicious meal is sure to improve your mood.
8
Pause before you eat.
Take a few seconds before meals to reflect on the fact that you have access to delicious, nourishing food. Whether it’s saying grace with your family, or a few moments of quiet meditation, reflecting on the joys of a delicious meal is sure to improve your mood.
Honor something bigger than yourself.
We all know we’re not the center of the universe, but it’s easy to forget that when we’re feeling stressed or anxious. Spend time reflecting on the intricacies of the universe, the beauty of nature, and the fact that most of the time, things do turn out okay. Let go a little and breathe a sigh of relief.
Hopefully, these unique and actionable ways to practice gratitude inspire you to move beyond your gratitude journal and into the real world. By connecting with people and the world around us, we can not only grow personally, but also help others and improve our community.
Happy gratitude-ing!
9
Honor something bigger than yourself.
We all know we’re not the center of the universe, but it’s easy to forget that when we’re feeling stressed or anxious. Spend time reflecting on the intricacies of the universe, the beauty of nature, and the fact that most of the time, things do turn out okay. Let go a little and breathe a sigh of relief.
Hopefully, these unique and actionable ways to practice gratitude inspire you to move beyond your gratitude journal and into the real world. By connecting with people and the world around us, we can not only grow personally, but also help others and improve our community.
Happy gratitude-ing!
Beauty
Gratuity Guide: How to Tip a Hair Stylist (and Show You Care)
Share
Tipping. While it can be a taboo topic that no one really wants to talk about publicly, the fact is, it’s a very important one that shouldn’t (and can’t) be avoided. This is all too true, especially now, when it comes to beauty services. Even before, “all of this” happened, there appeared to be some ambiguity about exactly how much to tip, when, what’s a respectable amount, and why. Now that we’ve tried our best at #homebeauty, it’s time to head back to the salons, spas, and other boutique beauty businesses (if you haven’t already). We’re here to guide you through gratuity in the new normal and why tipping a little extra to show your stylists and service providers you care during this tough time is the right thing to do.
To make sure we get you all the right answers, we asked around about it (so you don’t have to). Turns out, our Instagram followers had a lot to say about how to tip your stylists and show them some extra love right now.
Here’s what you think:
You’ve already been tipping more
79% of you said you’ve been tipping more for beauty services recently. We’re all so grateful for our stylists—with split ends, grown-out roots, out-of-control brows, and terrible home-cut bangs to prove it. And now that many of us can return to our salons and spas, we’re appreciating the ones who help us feel beautiful even more right now.
But, how much more?
We got a range of responses to this question. Some said they tip 5% more than they previously did, and many said 25%-35% total! Not only are these stylists actual artists, but they’re providing services we just can’t do ourselves. On top of that, many had to close their doors for several months, many were displaced as their salons shut down for good, and all of them are trying their best to get back to a sense of normalcy and do what they do best—help us look and feel beautiful. So, take this as a guide. Tip what you can but remember how much these wonderful people do for us.
New services are not top priority (yet)
When it comes to trying new services, 69% of you gave it a big fat NO, while 31% remain intrigued. It makes sense that many would stick to their go-tos right now, as salons are just starting to reopen in some areas or may not be open yet at all.
Depending on where you live and your overall health, you might be sticking with the bare minimum for now. But if your city has put in place safe reopening guidelines and measures, and you feel ready to head back out there, you can do so safely at a Mindbody salon. And you may be interested in trying out some new services right now as a way to show your local salons some extra support. If that’s you, browse beauty on the Mindbody app—and filter your categories to find out what’s out there.
Why retail therapy is important
Another way you can support your stylists right now? Shopping. It’s the safest way to show them some love without actually going in for a treatment. Many salons offer pre-payment on the Mindbody app and curbside pickup or a plethora of shipping methods, so you can keep contact to a minimum as much as possible. Plus, they have some pretty great stuff. If you need to invest in a good shampoo—especially because you haven’t gotten your hair done in months—so why not buy it from your stylist? According to our poll, it’s a pretty even split. 55% of you haven’t bought any products yet, while the other 45% have been shopping away. If you’re part of that 55, consider checking out your salon’s product offerings (you might see something you like).
Anything else?
Finally, we asked you all open-endedly how else you’re supporting your stylists right now. We got a lot of great answers. There was a lot of overlap, but we thought you might like to see some of the ones that stood out. So, if we didn’t cover it all so far, we’re about to—because you all are awesome and you did it for us. Here are some of the great ideas you had:
• “Paying in advance!”
• “Being more diligent about scheduling appointments versus letting my hair grow out”
• “Referring friends!”
• “Being flexible” (this is a good one—check out the 5 things your stylist wants you to know before you book)
• “Scheduling my next cut before I leave!”
• “Sharing their photos on Instagram and telling friends!”
So, if you’re a stylist reading this, thank you. We all want to continue showing you support during this time and beyond. And if you’re a regular person like me who really needs her highlights done, just schedule the damn appointment already (if you feel comfortable) or buy some purple shampoo from your favorite salon.
