A Powerful 3-Minute Habit for Stress Relief & Better Sleep
Deepak Rajeev | Feb 23, 2026, 20:44 IST
A Simple Habit That Can Reduce the Symptoms of Depression
Image credit : Freepik
Mental health often suffers in today's busy world. A simple habit can boost optimism and balance. Gratitude jotting, a practice taking just minutes daily, strengthens mental harmony. Research shows it reduces depression symptoms and improves sleep. This habit involves noting three things you are grateful for each night. Practicing this for two weeks can bring noticeable changes in perspective.
Highlights
- Mental health is often overlooked in our fast-paced lives.
- A simple habit of gratitude journaling can significantly enhance mood.
- It has been linked to decreased stress levels & improved quality of sleep.
In today’s fast-paced world, mental health is something that is left behind by a lot of people. Sometimes, our emotional or psychological wellbeing might be struggling without us realising it. This hidden stress will affect our long-term health and even longevity as well. So, it is very important that we slow down at least by the end of the day and take some time out for our soul or for developing internal balance. Indeed, modern psychological research points out that there is a powerful habit that we can adopt which will take only 2-3 minutes of our day. This simple habit has been proven to strengthen our mental harmony and also in bringing down our stress levels drastically. Curious to know more? Read on.
Gratitude jotting is a habit that has been proven by numerous research in improving our mood and also for boosting resilience. It helps us a lot in developing an optimistic perspective towards life. A study published in National Library of Medicine in 2017, pointed out that “Gratitude is associated with reduced symptoms of depression and stronger social bonds… interventions as simple as daily gratitude listing may confer psychological benefits across diverse populations.”
Additionally, gratitude journaling is also linked with decreased stress levels and improved quality of sleep. A research published in Sciencedirect highlighted that “people who maintained a daily gratitude record reported better sleep, lower perceived stress and greater emotional resilience compared with those who did not.”
We can maintain a tiny book or even create a note in our phone. Name it as “Gratitude.”
Each night, before you go sleep jot down 3 things of the day about which you are grateful for. It can be as simple an element as the tea that you had with your friend.
Then, write down why you are thankful for the same. This will strengthen the positive and emotional impact.
Continue this practice for at least 2 weeks. Real change in your perspective and mindset will begin to manifest by this time.
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A Simple Habit to Boost Optimism & Balance
Research Backed Simple Habit for Inner Peace
Image credit : Freepik
Additionally, gratitude journaling is also linked with decreased stress levels and improved quality of sleep. A research published in Sciencedirect highlighted that “people who maintained a daily gratitude record reported better sleep, lower perceived stress and greater emotional resilience compared with those who did not.”
Gratitude Jotting: Step-by-Step Guide
Keep a Book Titled "Gratitude"
Image credit : Freepik
Each night, before you go sleep jot down 3 things of the day about which you are grateful for. It can be as simple an element as the tea that you had with your friend.
Then, write down why you are thankful for the same. This will strengthen the positive and emotional impact.
Continue this practice for at least 2 weeks. Real change in your perspective and mindset will begin to manifest by this time.
Explore the latest trends and tips in Health & Fitness, Spiritual, Travel, Life Hacks, Trending, Fashion & Beauty, and Relationships at Times Life!