Do this to reduce stress and sleep better.

I recently finished reading a book on gratitude called Thanks a Thousand, a story of A.J. Jacobs' quest to thank EVERY person who makes his beloved cup of coffee possible each day. From the farmers, to the person who designed the coffee sleeve--in total, he thanked over 1000 people.

Jacobs mentions a trick his friend uses to fall asleep: As her head hits the pillow, she starts reciting the alphabet using each letter to name something for which she's grateful. From A to Z, this practice allows her to dig deep in thanks and take time to review her blessings. Not only does it help with sleep, it has benefits to the brain that can ease depression and encourage diet and exercise. 

Jacobs highlights a study by Scientific American that found, "The single best predictor of well-being was gratitude," beating out 24 other impressive traits, such as hope, love, and creativity. 

I've been enjoying the alphabet challenge on long walks and plane rides, in traffic, while waiting on hold, and before bed. Would you like to join me? Together, we can remember what's good about our lives and see if we can make it to "Z" before falling asleep! 

Let me know how it goes for you.

-Allison