How to Start a Gratitude Practice Today

More and more, we are realizing that happier people lead better lives. They even live longer! Shifting your perspective on life is actually easier than you may think – starting with a short daily gratitude practice is all you need.

Start Small

Starting your gratitude practice is as simple as starting to notice the little things. Throughout your day, make a mental note of little wins, things that made you smile, or something that made you feel happy. This can be your dog wagging her tail when you come home from work, the sun shining, your partner making a meal for you, or even a funny video on your phone.

Write It Down

Once you take a few days to notice the great things happening to you all the time, you can take it to the next level. This is where you can start journaling!

Don’t worry – you don’t need to fill pages and pages. All you really need is to write this on a plain piece of paper:

I am grateful for…
1.
2.
3.

This can be something as simple as the sunshine, your comfy bed, your home, a friend, or your t-shirt.

And voila! You officially have a gratitude journal.

Start Your Day Off Right

Preferably, you’ll be starting the day with your gratitude practice. If the first thing you do every morning is think about things you’re grateful for, you’re much more likely to be in a great mood, and have a great day.

Want to Kick it Up a Notch?

Now, you might want to upgrade from the scrap piece of paper and get yourself an official gratitude journal. They’re aesthetically pleasing, and often have more prompts that you can use to build your gratitude practice. Here are some of my favourites:

Five Minute Journal
This is the perfect quick gratitude journal. All it takes is 5 minutes a day – 2.5 minutes first thing in the morning, and 2.5 minutes just before bed. The prompts are the same every day, but there’s a weekly challenge and daily inspirational quote.

Daily Gratitude Journal
I love gratitude journalling so much, I made my own! This printable file is perfect for starting your gratitude practice. Each day, there are different prompts to get you thinking, and get you smiling. Check it out on my printables page.

My First Gratitude Journal (for kids)
Do you have a little one and want to foster gratitude with them? This adorable journal is the perfect collaborative way to do so.

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