YOUR FIRST FEW LINES

How to start a gratitude journal

A gratitude journal is a place to record things you appreciate. You can start with one moment from today, exactly as you remember it.

1. Pick something specific

Think about a small comfort, something someone did, or a moment you enjoyed. Instead of “good food,” you might write about the soup a neighbour brought over, still warm in its container.

2. Say why it mattered

Add a sentence about what it meant to you. Maybe it saved you cooking when you were tired, or reminded you that someone was thinking of you. That detail makes the entry yours.

3. Keep the first entry small

One or two sentences is a complete entry. You don’t have to find three things, fill a page, or make the writing sound polished. If a photo captures the moment, you can add that too.

4. Attach writing to a familiar moment

Try opening your journal after your morning drink or before putting your phone away at night. Choose a time that already has a little space in it. Change it if it does not fit your days.

5. Come back without catching up

If you miss a week, write about today. Your journal can have gaps. Revisiting an old entry may give you an idea, but there is no need to reconstruct every day you missed.

What if nothing comes to mind?

Try a smaller question: what made one part of today easier? You can also leave the page for another time. Gratitude journaling does not require pretending that a hard day was good.

Start here

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