November 9, 2025

The Science of Gratitude: Benefits of Giving Thanks

BY Aijalyn Gonzales & Jessica Mckeil

Body & Mind

Home > Blog > The Science of Gratitude: Benefits of Giving Thanks

Key Takeaways

Gratitude positively impacts mental health by activating brain reward centers, reducing anxiety and depression symptoms, and providing therapeutic effects.
Practicing gratitude improves physical health by lowering cortisol levels, enhancing sleep quality, and boosting immune function through reduced inflammation and healthier behaviors.
Gratitude strengthens community and relationships by fostering closer connections, increasing cooperation, and spreading goodwill, which can be cultivated through actions like expressing thanks, journaling, and reaching out to loved ones.

When the leaves fall and summer fades into a warm, distant memory, it signals our annual shift into cozy “holiday mode,” and a return to the cherished traditions that revolve around community, family, and friends. Now more than ever, it's time to pause, reflect, and give thanks.

But what if we told you gratitude is more than a polite phrase or greeting card sentiment? According to a growing body of research, this simple practice offers tangible benefits to every aspect of our well-being.

So as this season of thanks rolls around, let's dive into the science and find even more reasons to be grateful.

The Benefits of Gratitude: Mind, Body, & Community

Gratitude, according to a systematic review, is linked to greater “satisfaction with life, better mental health, and fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression.”

But counting our blessings doesn’t just heal our minds and bodies- it also offers benefits that seep into our outer community and relationships. Here’s how saying thanks works, from the inside out.

Gratitude and the Mind

Gratitude is often described as a warm, fuzzy feeling because it feels good to give thanks to those who've made a difference in our lives. And it turns out, this feeling isn't imagined.

Gratitude actually activates key reward centers in our brains, releasing dopamine and serotonin, neurotransmitters associated with pleasure and mood.

While these feel-good effects have long been observed in people who already feel emotionally balanced, a 2016 study showed that gratitude can also benefit those actively seeking mental health support.

In this study, researchers from Berkeley collaborated with 300 students who had reached out for mental health counseling. All participants received counseling, but they were split into three groups. The first was the control group with no further tasks; the second was asked to journal about their deepest thoughts on negative experiences; and the final group was tasked with writing letters of gratitude.

The results? Compared with the first two groups, the letter writers "reported significantly better mental health four weeks and 12 weeks after their writing exercise ended." This study suggests that a regular gratitude practice can have far-reaching therapeutic effects.

Gratitude and the Body

Beyond our mental health, practicing gratitude also has a positive effect on our physical well-being. Whatever your efforts include, whether it's sending thank-you texts or keeping a private gratitude journal, they're invisibly working to lower your overall stress, improve your sleep, and boost your immunity.

Reduced Stress

Notably, stress can lead to poor heart health and elevated levels of the hormone cortisol. The Appreciative Heart: The Psychophysiology of Appreciation reported that individuals who engaged in gratitude practices exhibited better cardiac function and lower cortisol levels than those who did not.

Better Sleep

Research also reveals a consistent link between gratitude and improved sleep. That means a practice of gratitude slows spiraling thoughts before bed, reduces daily stress, and seems to help people fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.

Boosted Immunity

What if you could fight the cold a bit better by giving thanks? Multiple studies have found that gratitude plays a supportive role in immune health, often by reducing inflammatory markers, lowering stress, and promoting behaviors linked to better physical well-being.

Gratitude and Community

man and woman smiling in a community garden

If gratitude benefits our personal well-being, imagine what it can do when practiced collectively.

Gratitude is a force that brings people together, mends divides, and strengthens the fabric of our society.

Think about Thanksgiving dinner: a shared table filled with laughter, food, and stories about the year that was. No matter how we disagree over sports teams or political affiliation, everything is set aside to make room for thanks (and turkey).

This simple tradition demonstrates exactly how gratitude can bring very different people closer together and foster a deeper understanding of one another.

But if holiday exchanges are too few and far between to relate to, think about how gratitude plays out in your everyday relationships. Perhaps you’ve felt closer to your romantic partner after expressing your appreciation for what they do, or vice versa? You wouldn’t be the only one.

A 5-week-long field study followed the daily lives of different couples who lived together and found that those who made it a point to practice gratitude spent significantly more time together than the placebo (an average of 68 extra minutes a day).

Other studies suggest that group gratitude practices, such as journaling together or simply expressing appreciation out loud, can boost cooperation and community support. Like a domino, one expression of gratitude inspires another, spreading goodwill throughout neighborhoods, workplaces, and across social divides.

A Few Things to Be Thankful For

Family and friends are our go-tos when it's time to share what we’re grateful for, before a serving of pumpkin pie.

But this year, don't just take the shortcut. If you want to experience the deeper benefits of a gratitude practice, use this moment to offer up a genuine, thoughtful appreciation that goes beyond the usual suspects.

Your Health

We rarely pause to thank our bodies for getting us through each day. Give a little gratitude to your breath, strength, and your ability to move through the world. And if you want to take this one step further, from the cerebral to the physical realm, consider honoring your endocannabinoid system with our ORCA formulations to motivate, replenish, and rest.

Mother Nature

When was the last time you took a moment to appreciate the great outdoors? The sensory experience of crunchy fall leaves, the moment of peace on a frosty morning, and the myriad plant allies (like cannabis) that help us connect with ourselves and others. It's high time we spoke about our gratitude for Mother Nature around the Thanksgiving table.

Our Service Members

Behind every freedom we enjoy is someone who stood up to defend it. This year, take a moment to thank the veterans and active-duty service members who have sacrificed so much in service to our country.

And remember, every Hometown Hero purchase helps support U.S. veterans. When you shop with intention, you become part of our "thank you."

Now To Begin: Gratitude in Action

Despite all its benefits, gratitude doesn't always come naturally. It's best thought of as a new skill that requires practice to develop and then routine to maintain.

To unlock the profound benefits for our minds, bodies, and communities, gratitude is a habit we have to cultivate. Here's how:

Reaching Out to Loved Ones

It's easy to let days, or even weeks, slip by without reaching out to the people who matter most to us. Life gets busy, and even a five-minute call feels hard to squeeze in.

So instead of letting yet another day go by, set a weekly reminder to connect with someone you care about. And when you do, go beyond small talk. Take a moment to thank them. Reflect on how they've supported you, and say it out loud. Sharing your gratitude, no matter how small it may seem, strengthens your connection and puts a smile on your loved one's face.

Gratitude Journaling

Most of the studies examining the benefits of gratitude involve putting pen to paper. Journaling isn't magical, but it forces us to be intentional about our appreciation.

Every evening, before you turn off the lights, spend a few minutes writing about the highlights of the day, with particular focus on the people, circumstances, and moments for which you are grateful. It doesn't have to sound pretty, and it doesn't have to be polished. The important thing here is the quiet reflection.

There are even specific journals designed precisely for this purpose. On every page, you'll find prompts to guide you through the process, which is like a guided meditation for developing gratitude.

Saying Thank You More Often

When you're out and about in the world, make a conscious effort to say thank you more often and with more conviction. If someone holds the door, the barista adds a cute foam topping to your latte, or a customer service rep helps you out — these are perfect moments to offer genuine thanks.

Sure, we often say it in passing, but you can make those words more meaningful by using their name and making eye contact. Maybe you feel inclined to leave a generous tip or commend them in front of their manager. Whatever you do, a heartfelt thank-you builds connection between strangers, and one thank-you at a time actually builds a stronger society.

Thank You, from Hometown Hero

Instead of rushing through your moment of gratitude this Thanksgiving, we encourage you to pause, reflect, and go deeper to share something you are genuinely grateful for this year.

Whether you're writing it down or sharing it out loud, the benefits of gratitude are profound and, as we have seen, often go far beyond just you.

So before we wrap up, we want to say thank you. We are incredibly grateful to everyone in the greater Hometown Hero family— our community, our customers, our everyday heroes.