IF YOU DO ONE THING THIS MONTH...

Elton was wrong. ‘Thank you’ seems to be the hardest word, actually, if research published in the journal Psychological Science is to be believed. In an attempt to explore the real reason you never quite get round to writing thank you notes, scientists at the University of Chicago channelled participants’ mums by asking them to send letters of thanks. Participants were asked to predict how their note would be received, then the recipients reported how getting the letters made them feel. When the predictions were compared with the actual responses, it turned out the letter-writers both underestimated the impact their words would have and overestimated the awkwardness of the encounter. In fact, it boosted the mood of all concerned. Result. And it isn’t just about the note. Researchers posited that ‘pro-social actions’, like expressing gratitude generally, can boost your overall wellbeing. So, go on, grab yourself some glittery gel pens (hey, what worked for teenage you…) and get bubble-writing.