When you're looking to express some gratitude to friends, family, or coworkers, being part of any community occasionally requires some verbal finesse.
Jump ahead to these sections:
- How to Say ‘Thanks for Looking Out for Me’ to a Close Friend
- How to Say ‘Thanks for Looking Out for Me’ to a Family Member
- How to Say ‘Thanks for Looking Out for Me’ at Work or Another Professional Setting
Through these expressions of appreciation, you're also actively cultivating a more harmonious life. It follows that the more you can express gratitude, the more gratitude you'll feel in general.
If you feel like you need some help getting the right words out in the right places, check out the expressions and actions below.
How to Say ‘Thanks for Looking Out for Me’ to a Close Friend
Good friends are hard to come by. When you find one (or three), make sure to express your gratitude, especially when they help you in times of need. If you don’t know how to get the right words out or do the right things, check out some of the ideas below.
1. “Thanks for having my back.”
If the simple route works better than anything else, then take it. There's no need to add fuss or extra words, especially when this message already speaks volumes on its own.
2. Pay for a night out
If you have a standing monthly night out with your best friend, why not catch the bill? The easiest way to make this a hassle-free gift of gratitude is to drop off your card with the server when you make an excuse to either use your phone or use the restroom.
Alternatively, if they happen to get up from the table for a minute, you could slide it to your server then.
3. “I couldn’t do this without you.”
If text is the best vehicle to send this message, then you're probably pretty savvy about the timing, too. This works because when you're able to say more with less, the impact is much more significant.
4. Send a gift with a thank you note
Having your friend's back goes along with the territory of being a friend.
And while good friends don't need a lot of praise to help out, if you are going to send a gift, keep it small, so it's less about the present and more about gratitude. And don’t forget the thank you note!
5. “Thank you for helping me out after my dad died. I don’t know what I would have done without your support.”
It's hard to remember the day of the week, let alone specific responsibilities when you're experiencing grief-induced amnesia. If this has happened to you, make sure to send out the appropriate 'thank you' texts or notes.
6. Take your friend hiking
Do you have a particular spot you go when you need to get some air? If so, invite your friend out with you to have a conversation about something other than stress, but don't forget to let them know what their support has meant to you.
7. "I'm not the kind of person who expresses themselves well. But I just wanted to say thank you for helping out last year. I should have responded earlier but was too embarrassed about asking for help."
It’s always important to acknowledge someone’s help no matter how late the expression of gratitude finds itself to its recipient. Just offer a slight explanation for the tardy response to give them some context on your timing.
How to Say ‘Thanks for Looking Out for Me’ to a Family Member
Family is one of the most important things in this world. There are so many reasons to appreciate your family. Here are a few ideas for messages and actions that might help you express your feelings of gratitude.
8. “I just wanted to say thanks for keeping me sane while my husband was called up. You honestly saved me from having a complete breakdown.”
Whether it's an out-of-the-blue assignment or extra shifts due to unforeseen circumstances, being 'there' for your family is what it's all about.
9. Text pictures of how much their help has meant to you
Sometimes words don’t do the action the justice it deserves. So, when that’s the case, send some photos that speak volumes.
10. "Hey, I know you're my big brother, and I'll always appreciate how much you care, but I got this, okay?"
It’s not always easy for people who care to stop helping the way that they’re used to helping out. But with the right words of appreciation, you’ll show your independence and also keep the door open just in case you need them in the future.
11. Send a small thank you gift
‘Thank you’ gifts don’t have to be a big deal. Just keep that person on your mind next time you’re out shopping and pick up the first thing that calls you. Then put it in an envelope and mail it.
12. “I really feel blessed to call you my family.”
It may only take eight words to express what’s in your heart, but it can give someone a lifetime of good feelings.
13. “Dad, I know you’ve always worked hard for us to make sure that we had everything we need, but now I want to start returning the favor.”
Here’s a great message when you want to start sending random practical gifts to your retired parents. Whether you hire a chimney sweep or pay someone to start mowing their lawn, they’ll know that this was for all the things they’ve said and done throughout the years.
14. Pay for a meal
When I catch people dining out, sometimes I’ll call the restaurant to pay for their meal. It’s such a fun and unexpected way of expressing gratitude for those who go above and beyond to help you out.
How to Say ‘Thanks for Looking Out for Me’ at Work or in Another Professional Setting
It’s not always easy knowing how to ask for help at work, but it definitely makes for a better workday when you’ve got great staff, coworkers, and bosses to help out in times of need. So, check out the ideas below to see how you can offer a deserved “thank you” when needed.
15. “You really had my back this week. Thank you so much.”
Sometimes work is so overwhelming that you may feel like you need a clone to get all done. So, if you’ve had one of those weeks, but also got a lot of help from a coworker, it’s essential to let them know you noticed and appreciated their support.
16. “Hey, thanks for catching that error. That could’ve been really embarrassing.”
Success depends on the whole team. So, when you’ve got a great bunch of coworkers who understand that concept, you already know how valuable it is to hear and say thank you.
17. “Thanks for sticking your neck out for me today at the meeting. I know that wasn’t easy for you to do.”
It’s rare to have people put their careers on the line to stand up for what’s right in the middle of some controversy. When that happens, expressing gratitude is the proper follow-up.
18. “I really appreciate you staying late so I could take care of my child.”
Juggling parenthood and a heavy workload are tough. When your coworkers see your struggle and jump in to help you get the work done, that’s a good team. If that’s the case, be sure to thank them.
19. “Thanks for getting that person out of here. I wasn’t sure what they were going to do next.”
If you work in the service industry, then you’re very familiar with hunger-induced attitudes. When these happen to you, don’t let the opportunity to say thank you to your manager slip past you.
20. “I am so impressed with how well you all work together. I was able to handle that so well because I have such a great staff.”
Calm under pressure is what you need your staff to be, right? Maybe these words don't fit exactly, but you can work with them until they feel right.
21. “I know you had extra work to do while I was gone, so I just want to say that I’ll return the favor whenever you need to take some time off.”
Whether it’s a surgery or a vacation that kept you away, expressing and showing gratitude goes a long way in a team environment.
Expressing Gratitude When Others Have Your Back
You already know what it's like to step in and be a person of character when times get stressful or out of control. So, when the shoe is on the other foot, make sure to show up with the right words so that people get that same good feeling that you do about lending a helping hand.
Still at a loss for words? Check out these thank you quotes for some more inspiration.