If you want to improve your health, you may want to start with something that costs nothing, requires no equipment and can be practiced almost anywhere: gratitude. A new study from researchers in the Department of Psychology at Durham University in England suggests that cultivating an attitude of gratitude may encourage people to adopt healthier habits.

The research found that people who are more thankful and appreciative tend to engage in a broader range of health-promoting behaviors. The study, published in the British Journal of Health Psychology, found that gratitude was associated with several behaviors that support better health. These included eating a healthier diet, being physically active, getting adequate sleep and managing stress.

In other words, developing a habit of noticing and appreciating the good things in your life may do more than simply improve your outlook. It may also help you make choices that support your physical and emotional well-being.

The findings suggest that gratitude could play a role in promoting healthier behaviors among a wide range of people.

Researchers analyzed data from 24 separate studies involving 6,967 people. The participants included university students, adults from the general community and people living with long-term health conditions, including fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and cancer.

The data were collected over nine years as part of a broader research program examining the relationship between gratitude and health.

Previous research has connected gratitude with individual health behaviors, such as healthy eating and following medical advice. The new analysis suggests that the connection may extend across several different health behaviors and may be seen in people from many different backgrounds.

One possible explanation is that gratitude helps people focus more on positive emotions and future outcomes. That shift in perspective may make it easier to choose behaviors that support long-term health rather than simply responding to immediate impulses or stresses.

For people who are trying to improve their health, adopting an attitude of gratitude may be a simple place to begin.

Gratitude doesn't require a major lifestyle change. It can be as simple as taking a few minutes each day to think about what you appreciate, writing down several things you are thankful for or intentionally recognizing the positive aspects of your life.

Lead author Professor Fuschia Sirois emphasized that gratitude could provide a simple, accessible way to encourage healthier behaviors.

She said, "Cultivating gratitude via gratitude journals or lists could therefore be a low-resource approach for facilitating uptake of key health-promoting behaviors."

Sirois added that gratitude interventions could provide an alternative, strengths-based approach to supporting healthier choices among people with health conditions, as well as students and the wider population.

The British Psychological Society's Division of Health Psychology said the findings highlight the potential for gratitude interventions to support a preventive approach to health.

Gratitude isn't a substitute for good nutrition, exercise, adequate sleep or appropriate medical care. But it may help create the mindset that makes those healthy choices easier to maintain.

If you're looking for ways to improve your health, consider adding gratitude to your daily routine. Take a few moments each day to recognize what you're thankful for. Over time, that simple practice may help shift your attention toward the positive, and encourage choices that benefit your health and well-being.

Researchers hope the findings will lead to additional studies examining how gratitude-based approaches can help people develop and maintain healthier behaviors.

Click here to read more in the British Journal of Healt Psychology.