It's the week of Thanksgiving! And with all of the fun and busyness of the holiday, our Los Gatos personal trainers know that things can get a little hectic and crazy. Run to this store … go to that place … pick this up … drop that off … get this done … and the list goes on and on. The number of things you need to get done in a day, let alone a holiday week are INCREDIBLE. Our Los Gatos personal trainers know it’s easy to feel drained, rushed, and pressured, and feel like you need to focus your attention on all the things you still HAVE to do. The LAST thing you want to take the time to do is slow down and practice a little gratitude. But guess what? Gratitude is one of the surest ways to protect yourself from getting pulled into the negative, stress-filled, and energy-draining hamster wheel. It can literally help you short-circuit stress before it has a chance to set in. Gratitude is NOT wearing rose-colored glasses and ignoring what you’ve got going on ... But it is taking intentional time to notice the GOOD things happening in our lives! Did you know that on top of giving you an extra shot of the feel-good hormone serotonin, feeling gratitude actually can CHANGE your brain? It helps strengthen the connection between the emotional and thinking parts of your brain – and people who have a gratitude practice are less likely to suffer from depression or anxiety. They also are more optimistic in general, less angry, and sleep better! (win, win, and WIN!) Our Los Gatos personal trainers want you to know that having a gratitude practice can even help lower your blood pressure and raise your heart-protective HDL cholesterol! Pretty incredible, huh? So, how do you start a gratitude practice that actually feels AUTHENTIC to you and your life? That’s easy. Our Los Gatos personal trainers want you to start just like you would beginning a new workout routine ... slowly. Take a few minutes every day to think about (and even write down) a few things that you feel truly grateful for – and why you’re grateful for them. This isn’t about going through the motions, but about actually FEELING them. If you want to amp it up, our Los Gatos personal trainers want you to try placing your hands over your heart as you think about what you’re grateful for. ( We know this may sound weird, but try it before you knock it!) Over a short period of time, you’ll notice that it becomes a lot easier, and you’re pretty much guaranteed to have a better day because of it. Think of it as an experiment and give it a try – there are no negative side effects. :) Let us know if you notice a difference! Live Stronger For Today, John Heringer Chief Motivator, Method3 Fitness Method3 Fitness is conveniently located in San Jose. Our team of personal trainers serve clients in Los Gatos, Campbell, Willow Glen and other surrounding Bay Area cities. Ready to get started with us? Fill out the “Request More Information Now” box above to receive your free consultation with our Los Gatos personal trainers and experience the Method3 difference OR call us at (408) 371-1212 to connect. Hope we can talk to you soon. If you found this blog useful, be sure to LIKE, LEAVE A COMMENT, and SHARE it on your favorite channel! The Method3 Fitness blog is updated weekly by our Los Gatos personal trainers. All content is designed to improve the way you move, eat, and think so you can achieve your goals and live stronger for today. Check back here each week and LIKE our Fan Page, to stay up to date on the latest tips, strategies and methods to get fit, lose fat, and build confidence.