Thanksgiving is traditionally the time of year when we express gratitude for the things we have in life. Now more than ever, starting and ending your day on a positive note can make all the difference in your mood, outlook, and mental health. Not only that, focusing on the good – both big and small – can change a person’s entire perspective on life.

 

It’s easy to focus your energy on the not-so-great things that happen to you. Sometimes we feel that if we just pull the covers over our heads, it will all go away. The truth is, ignoring the struggles in life are only a temporary reprieve. You have to learn to appreciate the positives and take in everyday things we have to be thankful for. A gratitude journal is the perfect way for you to express yourself, and bring to the forefront all the things you might otherwise take for granted.

 

Starting a gratitude journal is a relatively easy task. We’ve got some great pointers to get you started and hopefully make writing in it part of your daily routine.

Buy an actual journal. Sure you could use a laptop or a tablet to capture your thoughts, but there’s something about ink to paper that makes keeping a journal like this, that much more special. Purchase a nice book with enough pages to write in. You’ll likely refer back to it during the lower points in life to lift your spirits so you’ll want something that holds up.

 

Make it a morning routine. Start your day by writing down what you are thankful for. One line is all you need to write. Date the page and start your first line with “I’m thankful for (you fill in the blank).

Make it an evening routine. Right now as you manage your daily grind, things that go on around you may be nothing more than the rut of everyday life. Once you start writing in your journal that will change. You’ll take notice of what’s going on around you, and it will trigger thoughts of all the amazing things you have to be thankful for. At the end of your day when you write about them, those same things will become enhanced and your heart will fill with even more gratitude.

Don’t skip a day. Yes, life gets busy and responsibilities take over. Don’t let that be a reason to miss logging your thoughts. Make this a good habit that you don’t want to break.

Share your thoughts.  A gratitude journal is not a diary but rather a way for you to embrace the positive things in your life. Share these things with loved ones like your family and friends. At some point, everyone you love will become an entry in your journal. They should know how you feel about them and why you are thankful for them. You may even inspire them to start their own journals

Pay it forward. One of the best ways to express gratitude is to do something for someone that they can be thankful for. You never know, you just might just get your very own entry in their journal.

 

We promise; starting your own gratitude journal will be one of the best things you have ever done for yourself. There’s nothing better than living life with a positive attitude and making the very best of whatever life throws at you.

 

At the pajama company, we are thankful for you, our truly valued customers. We wish you and yours a very happy Thanksgiving.