Weekends are time when things slow down a little. Your weekend shouldn’t be two more regular workdays. That’s a sure road to burnout. Take time to refresh yourself. Take time for something different. Take time for some of that reading you can’t find time for during the week.

Here are choice articles on hot leadership topics culled from the business schools, the business press and major consulting firms. This week there are articles about thankfulness and gratitude.

From LaRaeQuy: Grow up and learn how to be grateful

“So, if we’re not in second grade anymore, and life still feels bad, are we supposed to pretend that everything is OK when it absolutely is not? The answer is no, because the most damage we can inflict on ourselves is when we’re not honest about who we are and what we’re experiencing.”

From Jesse Lyn Stoner: How to Find Thanks and Gratitude

“Grateful people experience more positive emotions, feel more alive, sleep better and even have stronger immune systems according to numerous research studies. However, it’s not always easy to find thanks and gratitude. We are hard-wired to focus on negativity. And if you try to force yourself to stop thinking about your concerns, you just end up thinking about them more.”

From Liz King: Undeniable: The Positive Power of Workplace Gratitude

“Who doesn’t want to be thanked for their loyalty or a job well done? Who doesn’t want a metaphorical pat on the back for going above-and-beyond? Everyone values a genuine thank you! But engagement and appreciation efforts – workplace gratitude – should be sincere and consistent across an organization.”

From Adi Gaskell: Why Gratitude Is So Important At Work

“It’s fairly well established that showing appreciation for a job well done is one of the most effective ways of boosting morale at work. If any further evidence is required however, a recent study from the University of Texas at Austin provides it.”

From David DeSteno: How to Cultivate Gratitude, Compassion, and Pride on Your Team

“As a leader, what traits should you cultivate in your employees? Grit – the ability to persevere in the face of challenges? Sure. A willingness to accept some sacrifices and work hard toward a successful future are essential for the members of any team. But I believe there’s another component that matters just as much: grace. I don’t mean the ability to move elegantly or anything religious. Rather, I mean qualities of decency, respect, and generosity, all of which mark a person as someone with whom others want to cooperate.”

From Bryan Robinson: A Pandemic Thanksgiving: Gratitude For What We Do Have

“Thanksgiving is supposed to be fun and for many of us a sacred time to count our blessings. If we allow the pandemic to steal our joy, it can compromise our mental health and turn the season into a sad and scary time. This has been a stressful year, most of us quarantined and working from home during the pandemic. We’ve faced ups-and-downs in the economy and the unease of political and racial unrest. Pandemic stress has led to a rise in anxiety and depression, and many working from home feel isolated, unappreciated and unrecognized for their contributions at work.”

Every Monday, I do a blog post about business reading and business books. Follow this link to some book recommendations for business leaders.