As we look forward to Thanksgiving, this is a good opportunity for us to look at and acknowledge the things we have to be grateful for. This is especially important right now as we all work through difficult times amidst a pandemic. It can be hard to see the positive things in life and can take a little longer to come up with things that we are grateful for, however, it’s important for our own happiness and mental health that we acknowledge these things. A great way to do this is by starting a gratitude journal. Mental exercises like this are a great way to organize your thoughts.

Mental Exercises and Gratitude Journaling – Getting Started

1. Get a notebook, a pad of paper, or something that can be your designated place for writing down things in which you are grateful.
2. Choose a time each day for your mental exercises so you will be likely to remember to record in your journal. Usually towards the end of the day is helpful so that you have time to reflect on the things that happened throughout the day that you are grateful for.
3. Write down 3 things each day that either went well, that you enjoyed, or that you appreciated. This can be as simple as “my coffee this morning,” “the neighbor smiling and saying hello,” or the “phone call from my family.” Don’t stress about it, just choose the first 3 things that come to mind.
4. Review your entries at the end of each week. You may even want to revisit these at the end of each month or when you are feeling down.

Gratitude journals are shown to improve people’s overall mental health and to better manage depressive symptoms. Many people use gratitude journaling and other mental exercises to help with depression and reduce stress.

Try it out and let us know how it’s working for you! If you have any questions about the most effective way to do gratitude journaling or any other mental health exercises, contact us today!