Over the course of being in college, I have tried so many different things to overcome the stress and anxiety of being a human. I've gone through dozens of planners, I have multiple notebooks that each have two or three journal entries, and my phone is littered with bookmarked articles about managing stress.

Last summer, I attempted to journal for the umpteenth time in my life and decided to try something new: note what I was grateful for.

It seemed silly to me at first. I know what I'm thankful for, and it feels like a waste of paper to write them down, but I gave it a shot anyway. I normally reflect on what I'm thankful for around the end-of-the-year holidays, but that only lasts for a few months, and that seems to be the case for most people.

That night, I journaled a little and wrote out my goals for the next few months, along with what I was thankful for on a note card. To my surprise, I felt better.

My cynical goggles came off and I started treating the world around me differently. Things that would normally make me twist and groan were manageable and barely crossed my mind as being unpleasant.

My thankfulness manifested and spurred me to reach out to people more often, to check in on people and even tell them that I'm thankful for them directly rather than write it down on a piece of paper and tuck it away.

Naturally, like any average human, I let that habit fall by the wayside for quite a while. Getting habits to stick is a difficult task to accomplish. The first step is to start small, test the water before you cannonball. And in 2018, I've started jotting down my gratitude list at least once a week and already see improvements to my attitude.

Knowing what you're thankful for makes you appreciate what you have in your life. Even if everything is going down the toilet in a spiraling torrent of crap, if you write down ten things you are thankful for, even if they are small like Cook Out chicken quesadilla trays or Pilot G2-05 pens, it may help you go about your life a little more light-hearted. But remember: just like any other habit, practicing gratefulness must be done consistently. Luckily, writing down a few things you are thankful for takes only two minutes out of your day.

The art of being grateful is an easily practiced skill and, I believe, can have nothing but positive effects. Practicing gratefulness can help put you in a positive mindset, a mindset that will give you a stronger foundation (and thicker skin) to face daily challenges and be more present with the things and people you love. Help make the world a better place by focusing on the good rather than the toxic.