Mindfulness is the state of being more present and aware of what you sense, feel and experience. It’s a great way to cope with stress and relax. Researchers are exploring the effects of diet, exercise, age, psychological stress, and other factors on the immune response, both in animals and in humans. In the meantime, general healthy-living strategies like mindfulness make sense, the practice comes with other proven health benefits.
Practicing gratitude is a good antidote for stress as well. In studies, burned-out healthcare workers who performed acts of gratitude — such as remembering three good things or writing gratitude letters — reported positive effects on their well-being after a few weeks.
Throughout our days we tend to notice more things that are not going well and pay little attention to positive moments. We are likely to feel better when, in the midst of a hectic day, we recognize and remind ourselves about all the gifts we have in life.