Times are tough right now and I think that this lockdown has probably been one of the hardest, grey January, a Christmas without family, more people losing their jobs, this week’s announcement and the vaccines have brought with it a light to end of the tunnel, but I, like many people are finding it tough.
Something I have practised for quite a few years is gratitude. Gratitude is an easy way to help your mood and outlook. It’s not a miracle cure, nothing rarely is. But it is proven to help depression, anxiety and mental illness. By focussing on the things we are glad for in our lives, what makes us happy, that make our lives easier. Then in return, passing kindness onto other people for no other reason than because it’s a nice thing to do. It can rewire our brains for focus on the good things instead of the bad and not get stuck in a negative cycle.
I have kept a gratitude diary for over 3 years now and except on days I have been really poorly, I have filled it out religiously. I usually just jot down 3 things I am grateful for each day, sometimes it’s elaborate and sometimes it’s as simple as I am grateful for tumble drier to dry clothes on a wet day, or similar.
So I thought I would share 18 ways to introduce gratitude in your life, that you can start right now and hopefully improve your mood a little.
18 Daily Gratitude Practises
- Start a Gratitude Diary
- Try 24 hours without complaining
- Do something kind for someone else, just because
- Write down 100 things you are grateful for
- Take a photo every day of the things that make you smile
- Write down a daily affirmation
- Bake a cake and give it to someone
- Send a card, postcard or text to let someone know you’re thinking of them
- Look in the mirror and point out the things you most love about your body
- Do something kind for yourself
- Take a walk in the outdoors and focus on what is beautiful around you
- Write down your favourite 3 memories and keep them for when you’re having a hard day
- Start a gratitude jar for your whole family to put things in, which you can sit down and look at together after a period of time
- Volunteer, there are lots of ways you can volunteer in the local area to help people
- Paint stones and leave them around the local area for people to find
- Leave a book with a note for someone to find and take home
- Share something you’re grateful for every day on social media
- Meditation, try and meditate on a regular basis
