now reading:

How to Start a Gratitude Journal

share post:

back to top 

What is a gratitude journal? How do you start a gratitude journal? Here are tips to help get you started. #Journaling #GratitudeJournal #PositiveAffirmations #TheDimpleLife

Self Growth

How to Start a Gratitude Journal

December 25, 2019

by: The Dimple Life

Want to know how to start a gratitude journal? If you have gone through any kind of life hurdle, you may benefit from one. Did you get laid off? Did you get ill? Did you have an argument with a loved one? Did you think you were going to accomplish and complete more life goals before this very moment? This is where starting a gratitude journal comes in.

The list truly does go on and on over what we tend to focus our minds on. Instead of throwing a party for one with the theme being an infinite spiral of negative emotions; try introducing a gratitude framework into your life.

Just as you would brush your teeth, cook yourself a meal, or anything that is now second nature to you – being very intentional about gratitude is one practice you should incorporate into your daily life in order to regain perspective on what truly matters to you. Gratitude journaling, or any kind of journaling for that matter, is a form of self-care that can help you throughout your day. Here’s some basic steps to how you can start capturing your attitude of gratitude:

Stay the course with a cute journal

Getting a cute journal that speaks to you can make all the difference with motivation and consistency with journaling. Below are a few that I found that maybe you might find useful too!

Write daily

It takes 66 days to form a habit (not 21 days like is often believed). Give it your best shot for two months of your life and start a gratitude journal. See if it makes a difference. I know that it can be hard to remind yourself to do something new, let alone, every day, but to get long-lasting benefits of happiness, positivity, and perspective, try setting aside 5-10 minutes daily to reflect on what you are grateful for. Pro tip: Treat this, as you would a workout or a work meeting – this is a meeting appointment on your calendar that you can’t ditch out on. Schedule it in your calendar if you have to!

Write at the same time

To develop a habit or new addition to your daily routine, it helps to have consistency. Much like any routine, you come to expect certain habits. I know that one of the first things I do each morning is make myself a cup of matcha. As second nature as that has become for me, so has gratitude journaling. Pick out a specific time of day that works for you. I find that setting up my mind with a more positive framework in the morning helps me build upon healthy thoughts throughout the day. I know that others like to wind down the evening by doing a nightly gratitude reflection. There is no right or wrong time to write in your journal. The most important thing is you find a time that works best for your schedule.

Be specific

If I said I was grateful for having a job, how many people could relate to that? But when I become specific and say that I’m grateful for my job because I’ve been able to build a business for myself, lead a life full of more purpose and passion, and have the schedule flexibility that I desire – this makes the gratitude that much deeper. There is more meaning to the gratitude the more specific you become.

Start with prompts

If journaling is a new practice for you altogether, sometimes starting can be a bit tricky. Try writing to basic prompts, such as what’s below, for starters. These can be a building block into helping you think about your life in a variety of ways.

  • What was the best part of your day? Describe in detail.
  • Share a time a friend or family member did something thoughtful for you?
  • What is an accomplishment in your personal or professional life?
  • What do you like most about where you live and why?
  • Do you have an able body in some ways? Describe what your body does for you daily.

I hope these tips helped you. I really wanted to create this post to help guide people into writing their positive feelings and experiences down more. I feel like journaling has often times been used mostly to vent or to write out uncertain or negative emotions. What would happen if we changed all of that stressful energy into journals filled with gratitude? Let me know if you have picked up this practice!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  1. Nicole says:

    Love this post! Consistency is key. I started one a couple of weeks ago and haven’t wrote in it for a few days. Thanks for the inspiration. 🙂

    • Rachel says:

      Yes I’m so happy you started one! It’s sooo nice to write everything out and see it on paper, isn’t it? Consistently is the only way for long term results and benefits! Lots of love to you xo

I'm looking for support with:

explore the blog

More on the Blog

I'm looking for support with:

self growth

career + finance

food

movement

home

beauty

relationships

do good

It is hard to know where to begin with volunteer work. Here are a few resources that can help you find the cause that is right for you. #Volunteerism #Volunteer #SocialImpact #NonProfitOrganization

There are so many opportunities to become involved in our communities to really make a lasting impact in our world. It can be overwhelming though when you don’t know where to start. If you are someone with many different interests and don’t know which cause specifically would be best to get involved with, starting anywhere […]

Non profit organizations that support teachers and education.
Where to purchase a coronavirus non medical grade face covering or mask. Here is a round up that can help protect you and your community. #COVID19 #coronavirus #healthylifestyle #TheDimpleLife
It can be daunting to make friends as an adult with limited outlets the older you get. But that doesn't mean it's not possible. It takes getting out of your comfort zone and knowing where to look but know that it is possible with the following tips. #Friendships #Relationship #MentalWellness #MentalWellbeing #TheDimpleLife

It can be really daunting to create friendships as an adult. When you grow up, it seems like there’s more opportunity to create relationships with your classmates in school, with your coworkers at work, and through various social settings. As you grow older and enter different phases of your life though those outlets can shift […]

Why teaching 'family first' doesn't work all the time. #FamilyRelationships #HealthyRelationships #Boundaries #TheDimpleLife

Ever since I was in elementary school, I can remember a school project where I presented that the most important motto to me is “Family First”. This thinking was engrained into my upbringing from a very early age. On surface level, it’s quite beautiful. Family truly will always mean so much to me. However, at […]

The five love languages explained so you can discover your own.

Do you know how you appreciate receiving love? Do you know how you appreciate giving love to others? These are all tied to your love languages. This may be from learned behavior you’ve seen or experienced growing up – knowing you loved when the special people in your life showed love in specific ways or […]

Hand that has cream sunscreen on

It’s no secret that Korean beauty and skincare have been on the rise for years – with no end in sight. After having asked Korean women living in Korea what the secret is to their glowing and translucent – or “glass skin” – is, the overwhelming answer was “sunscreen” so you know that Korean sunscreen […]

How to transition to a clean skincare routine and clean skincare products #CleanSkincare #NonToxicSkincare #NonToxicBeauty #TheDimpleLife #CleanLiving

When you have your set routine of products you enjoy using, it can be hard to transition away from your beloved products that may not be deemed as clean. But if you are determined to transition into a more non-toxic lifestyle, your beauty and skincare products may be the easy entry you are looking for. So […]

The top natural, nontoxic, clean face cleansers. If you start anywhere with beauty, start with a clean face! #naturalskincare #cleanbeauty #cleanskincare #holisticwellness #TheDimpleLife

I’m a firm believer that if you want to invest in any kind of skincare, you should start with the first step: nontoxic, clean face cleansers. You don’t want to put a bunch of serums and moisturizers on skin that isn’t clear of dirt, oil, and other impurities.

Sleeping in an unfamiliar room or hotel can be difficult when you're traveling. Here are a few essentials to help you relax and get the sleep and rest you deserve. #Sleep #SleepRoutine #TravelEssentials #MindfulTravel #TheDimpleLife

Traveling can be an exciting adventure, a relaxing escape, or something in the middle, but regardless of whatever type of travel experience you have coming up, the quality of your sleep (or lack of it) is a constant to be mindful of. It can be difficult to be away from your routine, your bed, and […]

How to create a peaceful bedroom environment.

It can be hard to keep your home tidy, especially if you have pets, kids, a partner or other people who you share space with. The one non-negotiable I’ve learned over time is the importance of creating a calming and peaceful environment in my bedroom. My bedroom is my sanctuary – it’s the area where […]

The top 20 list of the most sleep deprived cities in America. #SleepDeprived #RestfulSleep #NighttimeRoutine #TheDimpleLife

Living in a big city definitely has its benefits. There’s more opportunities to meet a wide, diverse range of people, more stores and businesses, and generally more activity happening. However, it’s still surprising to see certain cities listed as one of the most sleep-deprived cities in America. There is some research and original data reporting […]

For anyone in LA that has never thought to try a boxing class but enjoys group HIIT workouts, I highly recommend checking out one of these boxing studios. #gymbox #bestgym #gymslosangeles #losangelesathleticclub #gold'sgym #bestgymsinlosangeles

After moving to Downtown LA I found myself getting tired with the monotony of the standard workout I was completing in my small apartment gym. In my efforts to branch away from the standard routine, I visited multiple local gyms. I eventually found a love for group High Intensity Interval Training sessions. This new found […]

Top Rated Yoga Studios in Los Angeles

Are you interested in staying fit whilst also focusing on your inner self? You won’t have a hard time finding excellent yoga studios in Los Angeles! I’m not going to lie – it was VERY hard to choose seven winners. However, it had to be done! I’ve made a list of my absolute favorite studios […]

Woman Tip-Toeing On Floor

Sometimes the thought of leaving the house and heading to the gym can be stressful enough to turn a workout day into a rest day. There is no need to let the effort of getting to the gym dissuade you from getting your workout in! I have included below all the information and equipment you […]

Anti-inflammatory juice containing beets, carrots, ginger and more to protect against illness. One of the most refreshing juices I've ever had! #freshjuice #antiinflammatory #guthealth #TheDimpleLife

Beets have always been a favorite for me, whether it’s eating them as beet chips, roasted beets in a bowl, or pickled beets in a salad, there are so many different ways to be able to enjoy this root vegetable. They are known to be a strong source of folate, potassium, vitamin C, fiber, and […]

An easy approach guide to eating well at any point in your life. The way to healthy starts today. #EatingWell #HealthyLiving #MindfulEating #TheDimpleLife

Food and how to eat well are tricky topics for most people. With so many different approaches ranging from a strictly raw diet to being vegan to paleo and keto, it can be very confusing! My approach to food though is simple and broken down into the below guidelines. Before diving in, just know that […]

Korean tteukguk rice cake dumpling new years soup

Happy New Year, everybody! I wanted to share an easy Korean recipe with you today. It’s called “Tteokguk” which translates directly to Korean rice cake soup. Don’t let the name fool you, there are so many other goodies in there that it’s not only rice cakes but it’s also Korean dumplings called mandu, meat (traditionally […]

Money saving tips so that you can be a mindful spender especially during sales. #MindfulSpending #MoneySavingTips #TheDimpleLife

Big sales around any type of holiday can be a very enticing temptation. Who doesn’t want to save 25% off of an item that looks like you might need it in the future. Living mindfully doesn’t only look like journaling and practicing being present but it also means being a mindful person when it comes to your […]

Tips on How to Overcome Anxiety as an Entrepreneur

There is so much anxious with the unknown and entrepreneurship is all about the unknown. There is a Lao Tzu quote that really resonates with me and I remind myself of it often: “If you are depressed you are living in the past. If you are anxious you are living in the future. If you […]

There are 12 stages of burnout – did you know that there are so many? It’s more than just a feeling of exhaustion of overwhelm. There are thoughts, feelings, and actions that amount to various stages of burnout. It’s important to know what they are so that you can identify similar behaviors in yourself. This […]

I once found Instagram to be such a joyful place. I joined at a time when “influencer” wasn’t even a term. There were no brand deals, just a bunch of people sharing photos online. It was a creative outlet for me to be able to express myself and I found it fun to check in […]

We all have specific wants and desires in our lives. We want to be healthy, we want to have the time to learn a new language, we want to make more money, the list really does go on. One ingredient that is in the recipe to achieving all that you want is consistency. Tony Robbins […]

As we grow up, we lose our ability to evolve into different life paths. This is your reminder that that childlike curiosity will always remain inside of you. Lean into what is possible and be courageous enough to listen. #PermissionToGrow #GrowthMindset #TheDimpleLife

When we were children, we may have had our favorite toys we were obsessed with for a period of time. Playing with it every chance we could get. Always picking it out first out of the options we may have had. And when we outgrew it, due to boredom or age, we moved onto other […]

© 2023 3R Media. All Rights Reserved  |  Privacy Policy  |  Terms & Conditions

Site by Sunday Stories

© 2021 3R Media. All rights reserved.
Read our Privacy Policy & Terms & ConDitions