12 Practical Ways to Practice Gratitude

November 17, 2021 4 min read

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self care

When you are grateful for the little things in life, it can be easier to keep perspective. When I’m feeling overwhelmed or pessimistic about my day-to-day routine, taking five minutes of gratitude gives me that boost of positivity needed get on track with what matters most!

Without gratitude, life is more challenging than it needs to be. Feeling grateful resets your perspective, and this is a gift you can give yourself each day. If you find yourself feeling pessimistic or overwhelmed, a little gratitude can get your attitude back on the right track. Gratitude is free, enjoyable, and effective.

Gratitude is a powerful tool that can help you realize how good life really is. Practicing gratitude on a daily basis will teach you to be grateful for what you have and make sure to appreciate the small things in your life. In this blog post, I'll share some practical ways that will help you practice gratitude on a daily basis!

Practice gratitude each day with these actions:

Write it down. Make a daily habit of writing down a few things that you can be grateful about. Ideally, you’ll do this early and late in the day. It gets your day off on the right foot and sets you up for a good night of sleep. Make it a part of your morning routine. It’s nice to wake up to something positive each day! This printable Gratitude Journal is the perfect tool to get you into the habit of practicing daily gratitude!
Be grateful for the little things. There are plenty of small things you can be grateful for each day. A great cup of coffee, the sound of birds in the morning, or the fact that you have a new set of tires on your car can all uplift your mood. The fact that the sun continues to rise each morning I've found particularly comforting in trying times.
Go for a gratitude walk. This is a great way to get out of your head. Go for a walk and look for things that you can be grateful for. A beautiful tree, a child playing in their yard, a friendly dog, or a nice, cool breeze are all things you could choose to feel gratitude about.
Avoid making comparisons. When you compare one thing to another, you demean it. Be grateful for something exactly as it is. This applies to people and things. People have different personalities and interests. They also have different weaknesses and strengths. Instead of comparing, appreciate what you have for exactly who they are in the moment.
Tell people you’re thankful. Show people that you’re grateful for thanking them. Whether it’s your neighbor for keeping his yard so nice or the cashier at the store. Be thankful and let them know about it.
Enjoy your pet. Pets give us plenty of reasons to feel gratitude. Give your pet some extra attention. You’ll both feel great about it!
Donate your time or money. Give your resources to something that you think is valuable to the world. It could be a charity or other organization. Time and money can have a great impact.
Make a list of things that impress you about yourself. Have a little gratitude for yourself, too. What are you impressed by when you take a long, hard look at yourself? You’ll not only be expressing gratitude, but you’ll also be doing wonders for your self-esteem.
Write a positive review for a business you appreciate. Business owners love positive reviews. It makes them feel good and can boost their business. Be supportive and express your gratitude for how their product or service has helped you!
Meditate on the things that you’re grateful for. Put your focus and attention on those things you’re most grateful for. You might develop an even greater appreciation for them. Many people find coloring a valuable tool to meditation. Use these printable Gratitude & Positive Affirmations Coloring Pages to help you magnify and manifest good things in your life. <3
Minimize judging and complaining. Judging and complaining are the opposite of gratitude. People that do this aren’t enjoyable to be around, either. Keep your negative thoughts and opinions to yourself. Avoid judging others and you’ll find that you’re happier and less stressed.
Be thankful at mealtimes. Since you eat at least one meal each day, this is a great way to develop a habit of expressing gratitude. Be grateful for your food and the people sharing it with you.