3 Simple Ways to Start at Gratitude Practice

November 27, 2024

What you’re grateful for is something that often comes up around the Thanksgiving holiday in the US, but gratitude doesn’t have to be limited to one day a year.

Noticing the things you’re grateful for can help you connect to others, and remind yourself of what’s going well during hard times.

A gratitude practice can even help you manage stress, improve sleep, build confidence, and increase your resilience.

3 Simple Ways to Start at Gratitude Practice

Set a reminder  

Adding a new element to your daily routine can be hard, so make it as easy as possible for yourself by setting a recurring reminder on your phone or device.

Set the reminder for a time when you’ll have time to jot a few things down, and not during a time of day when you know you’ll be tempted to ignore it.

You don’t have to spend more than 5 to 10 minutes on this each day, and having an outside reminder can help you stick to it.

Express gratitude to others

When you feel thankful toward someone for something, make a point to let them know. You don’t have to make a big deal out of it – just say thanks.

Keep a gratitude journal 

Having a dedicated place to keep track of what you’re thankful for makes it a lot easier to practice gratitude regularly.

You don’t have to keep a physical journal if that’s not your preference. There are gratitude apps available that help remind you to keep track, or you could use your notes app to keep a running list that you can access anywhere. Make it easy and simple.