When you have an opportunity to thank someone in your life, make sure you do it. Sometimes these little acts of gratitude can make all the difference in someone’s day, and they won’t soon forget the kindness you’ve shown them. Of course, with everyone’s busy schedules, it can be hard to find the time to truly express how grateful you are to your friends and family, but it’s important to make that extra effort when you can so others know how special they are to you. Below are some great tips on ways to show your loved ones how thankful you are!

Why a thank you note matters


Thank-you notes are a great way to show gratitude, but they also serve another purpose. There’s an old business adage that says people do business with people they know, like, and trust. It’s difficult to know someone you don’t interact with in person. However, once you write a thank-you note (or email or make a phone call), your relationship moves out of stranger territory into relationship territory.

A thank you means more than words


In fact, a simple Thank you can have a profound impact on your life and those around you. These words of gratitude can help you work more productively, build meaningful relationships and live in a healthier way. In fact, simply saying thanks to those around you is one of the simplest and most powerful ways to improve your health. And expressing gratitude to others will make them feel better as well! Try thanking some people every day and see how it impacts your life.

How to write a meaningful thank you note


In a world where we constantly feel busy and overworked, it’s nice to take a moment to appreciate all that people do for us. But you don’t want your appreciation to get lost in email—not even in your spam folder! That’s why handwritten thank you notes are still an important part of every businessperson’s life. Here are some tips on how to write meaningful thank-you notes.

For customers


A lack of customer gratitude is killing business. If your customers aren’t thanking you, they’re not happy. A simple thank you could mean more sales and happier customers, so why aren’t businesses making a habit out of it? This post will explain how to encourage customer appreciation and show companies how much a simple thank you can do for their bottom line.

For mentors


Mentors are individuals you can turn to for guidance and advice as you navigate your career. Mentorship typically has a mentee (the person being mentored) and a mentor (the person doing the mentoring). But there are often mentors in our lives that we don’t necessarily label—like a family member or close friend who might know more than us on some topic or even just have something in common with us that they’re able to share.

For friends


Friends can be such a big support system and cheerleader for you when it comes to achieving your goals. If you’re trying to lose weight, reach a savings goal or otherwise achieve some kind of success, tell your friends about it so they know what you’re working towards. It’s great to have someone else cheering you on!

For family members


A family meal is one of many possible ways you can express your gratitude. When serving your family, slow down and enjoy a long, relaxing meal that allows everyone to connect with each other, spend time together and give thanks for what you have. Let them know how much they mean to you, and tell them why you are grateful for all that they do.

For colleagues


If a colleague does something that helps you at work, make it a point to acknowledge their good deed. A simple thank you is all it takes—and some research shows it can improve your relationships and help make you more productive. For example, In one study, researchers found that students who were trained in gratitude were better able to focus on [their] schoolwork and scored 15% higher on their tests than students who were not trained to be grateful, according to Psychology Today.

Concluding remarks on thank you notes


After thanking someone for a gift, it’s always important to express how you feel about what they gave you. For example, you could say something like, I really appreciate your thoughtfulness and I love using my new pen! It’s a great writing tool. Thanks again! Some people even include a joke in their thank-you note as a way to end on a more lighthearted note defined here.