November is the season of Thankfulness and many people begin thinking about everything they have to be thankful for. There are many things to be grateful for, and taking the time to notice them can have a major impact.  Gratitude is a key factor for living a life filled with positivity, however, gratitude may be one of the most overlooked tools that we all have access to everyday.

​Essentially, gratitude is being thankful for what you have or showing appreciation and kindness to others.  Cultivating gratitude doesn’t cost any money, or take much time, but studies have found that an attitude of gratitude gives significant health benefits, affect productivity, relationships and happiness.  ​With a little help and practice, being grateful can easily become a part of your life.

At Twist OP, we are participating in a 30 day gratitude challenge and we encourage you to join us.  This mini wellness challenge is designed to help you harness the power of gratitude in both your professional and personal life.  Follow along each day on the 30 Days of Gratitude Challenge sheet below.  Each day features a small achievable goal to help you  take a moment for reflection, change negative thinking patterns in your brain, express gratitude and better appreciate the little things in life.  Best of all, it’s easy to do! 

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We  encourage you to document your gratitude challenge on facebook, twitter or Instagram and check the TwistOP facebook, twitter and Instagram to see how the Twist team is doing as well!.  Use the hashtag #GratitudeWithATwist

thank you to our wonderful sources;
Total Wellness  Https://info.totalwellnesshealth.com/blog
Forbes 7 Scientifically Proven Benefits Of Gratitude That Will Motivate You To Give Thanks Year-Round Http://bit.ly/2Q3xAUN
Meetings Northwest:  https://meetingsnorthwest.com/workplace-challenge-31-days-of-gratitude
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 Every job has great days and sometimes not so great days. Here are a few tips that may help you relax and love EVERY day more.

Start Each Day With A Motivational Thought
It has been said that your attitude at the start the day can have more affect on you than ten cups of coffee! If that is true, we have to challenge ourselves to begin our days with positive thoughts that prepare us for success.There are a variety of websites and phone apps that deliver daily inspiration to help start each day on the right foot. 
Success Thought of the Day
​The Daily Motivator

Balance Work & Life
Don't let work keep you from family, friends and the activities that mean the most to you.  At the start of the day, determine your "quitting time" and block out a half hour before that to wrapping up unfinished emails and calls.

Keep A Neat Office
It shows you respect your workplace, helps you work more efficiently and impresses your work guests.
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National Stress Awareness  Day is observed annually on the first Wednesday in November. This is a day to identify and reduce the stress factors in your life.

There are many reasons for stress in the workplace. The job market is difficult and with many companies downsizing, a common concern for those affected is how they will continue to provide for their families. Another major stress factor for some may be conflicts with co-workers.

Work-life is not the only stressor.  Nearly every employee balances family, home and health as well, whether they are married or not. Parents, siblings, illness, maintenance of vehicles or civic responsibilities may impact our lives.

Learning how to manage your stress takes practice, but you can -- and need to -- do it. Here are 6 ways to make it easier.

1.  Exercise
Working out regularly is one of the best ways to relax your body and mind. Plus, exercise will improve your mood. But you have to do it often for it to pay off.

2. Relax Your Muscles
When you’re stressed, your muscles get tense. You can help loosen them up on your own and refresh your body by:

• Stretching
• Enjoying a massage
• Taking a hot bath or shower
• Getting a good night’s sleep
• 
  

3. Deep Breathing
Stopping and taking a few deep breaths can take the pressure off you right away. You’ll be surprised how much better you feel once you get good at it. Just follow these 5 steps:
1.  Sit in a comfortable position with your hands in your lap and your feet on the floor. Or you can lie down.
2.  Close your eyes.
3.  Imagine yourself in a relaxing place. It can be on the beach, in a beautiful field of grass, or anywhere that gives you a peaceful feeling.
4.  Slowly take deep breaths in and out.
5.  Do this for 5 to 10 minutes at a time.

4. Eat Well
Eating a regular, well-balanced diet will help you feel better in general. It may also help control your moods. Your meals should be full of vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and lean protein for energy. And don’t skip any. It’s not good for you and can put you in a bad mood, which can actually increase your stress.

5. Slow Down
Modern life is so busy, and sometimes we just need to slow down and chill out. Look at your life and find small ways you can do that. For example

• Set your watch 5 to 10 minutes ahead. That way you’ll get places a little early and avoid the stress of being late.
• When you’re driving on the highway, switch to the slow lane so you can avoid road rage.
• Break down big jobs into smaller ones. For example, don’t try to answer all 100 emails if you don’t have to -- just answer a few of them.

6. Take a Break
You need to plan on some real downtime to give your mind time off from stress. If you’re a person who likes to set goals, this may be hard for you at first. But stick with it and you’ll look forward to these moments. Restful things you can do include:

• Meditation
• Yoga
• Tai chi
• Prayer
• Listening to your favorite music
• Spending time in nature

​Share your ideas to combat srtess using #StressAwarenessDay on social media.