It’s true, the art of writing thank you notes is considered to be a little archaic, but just because there are now quicker methods to express your gratitude doesn’t make the traditional thank-you note any less meaningful. One of the most popular excuses as to why these notes don’t get written is because of a lack of time, but thanks to COVID-19, most people have a lot of extra time on their hands. So why not write those thank you notes?

Here are just a few reasons why you should take spend some time this week writing thank you notes:

1. Gratitude is so important for the brain. It has been clinically studied and proven that gratitude, especially daily gratitude, has amazing effects on the brain, for both the writer and the recipient. According to a study done by a professor from the University of Texas and University of Chicago, the action of expressing gratitude with pen and paper increased positive emotions, as well as the overall well-being for both parties.
2. It sets you apart. You’ve probably heard this a million times, but writing thank you notes is one of the best things you can do to help you get a job (other than being qualified and having a good interview, of course). Imagine you’re interviewing for a job, along with 50 other people. The hiring director is going to get a lot of emails thanking them for their time, and isn’t going to read every single one. However, a hand-written thank you note that shows up on their desk is going to be read for sure.
3. It is more personal than an email or a text. Think about how easy it is to shoot off a text message or an email to someone. You type up the same “Thank you so much for your gift, I loved it!” and include a few thousand heart and smiley face emojis. And ultimately, the recipient ends up deleting it or it gets buried in their inbox. The whole process is a little impersonal, and while it shows gratitude, it doesn’t have the same affect. However, sitting down and writing a thank you note, then mailing it to someone, takes way more time, effort, and thought; you have to fill an entire card with words about how grateful you are for this person. I have gotten two thank you notes in the last month, and both are on my bulletin board because they make me smile and remind me that what I am doing has impact.

Right now, more than ever, we could all use a little bit of positivity in our lives, so write those thank you notes, whether it be to a close friend or family member, to your clients, to your employees, or to frontline workers – it will put a smile on your face and theirs.

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