With holidays in October, November, and December, the end of the year often feels stressful. For many, it might even seem as if the holidays are closer together. Before Halloween passes, we begin seeing signs of Christmas in stores. However, Thanksgiving, a time for gratitude, receives far less attention.

Yet showing appreciation is something we should prioritize all year long. This isn’t just because it’s the right thing to do – giving thanks can actually make us happier. There are several ways to make practicing gratitude a simple, enjoyable part of your life.

1) Save What You’re Thankful for in a Joy Jar

For this exercise, all you need is an empty jar, something to write with, and slips of paper. You will write down things or memories you’re thankful for on slips of paper and put them in your joy jar. Set aside time at least a few minutes each day to work toward filling your jar. 

This is a great example of a gratitude exercise that you can really make your own. Feel free to personalize your joy jar. Express yourself by decorating it with paint, ribbon, or other elements. 

You can also put more than just slips of paper inside. One example is photos or other small keepsakes that remind you of positive memories.

You also have the choice of what to do with the messages inside. On bad days, you may choose to read one of the slips to boost your mood. Some choose to read all of the slips in their joy jar after a month or year. This is a practical tradition you can implement on your birthday or New Year’s Eve to make the day more memorable.

After reading the messages, you can start a new joy jar or continue adding to your current one. This exercise can be a great physical reminder of how much there is to give thanks for in life.

2) Make Practicing Gratitude a Game

It can be hard to stick with new habits, even when we know they can benefit us over time. This is especially true when we are the only ones holding ourselves accountable. One way to encourage yourself to practice gratitude is by making it a personal challenge. You will want to make it enough of a challenge where you are motivated, but not overwhelmed. 

Select a pace that works for you – to finish the game in one day, at the end of the week, or at the end of the month. You may even surprise yourself and “win” the game sooner than you planned.

Here are a few examples of simple games and activities you can try:

1. Go on a scavenger hunt – Before you start your hunt, you need to decide what you will look for. You can either make your own gratitude scavenger hunt list, or print one from online. Creating a list of joys you’re grateful for can be a fun activity in itself.

Some starter ideas for your first scavenger hunt list could be:

• • Something that smells good
  • A photo that makes you smile
  • A special gift from a friend or family member

2. Create your own version of bingo. To create your own bingo card, you can use a free online generator or draw your own. You will then write different things you’re thankful for in the squares. You can customize your card to include anything from a sunrise to hearing your child’s laugh.

3. Turn the alphabet into a gratitude game.  The objective of this game is to find one thing you’re grateful for that starts with each letter of the alphabet. You might think of a= air, b= books, c= my car.

You can change up these games as much as you’d like. You get to decide how many squares to put on your bingo card or how many things to find on your scavenger hunt. Creating a few different bingo cards or scavenger hunt lists can keep things fresh. Rotating between games is another way to keep your gratitude practice exciting.

3) Give Thanks with Personalized Notes 

We should also express to others how much joy and value they bring to our lives often. Writing notes to different people we are thankful for regularly is a great way to realize how lucky we are.

Completing this exercise can look different each day which can make it enjoyable. Think beyond only friends and family that you have known for years. Challenge yourself and leave a note for a helpful co-worker or even a friendly neighbor. It isn’t about how much you have to say, but the fact that you are taking the time to express appreciation.

Begin by choosing what you will write on – such as a Post-It, a piece of paper, or a store-bought card. One way to add a touch of personality is by using a colored pen. If you are writing to a friend or family member, you can include a fun photo. 

Take time to brainstorm different words or phrases to communicate your gratitude. Consider being detailed in what you are giving thanks or grateful for. These simple actions can make your notes more intentional and meaningful. 

Some ideas for different phrases you can use include:

• I appreciate you / I appreciate all you do
• I’m so fortunate to have you in my life
• I don’t know what I would have done without you
• My favorite thing about you is…

Make this gratitude exercise more fun with how you choose to deliver notes. Instead of hand-delivering them, you can put them in unexpected but common places. 

At home, you could put it in a utensil drawer, a book they’re reading, or on a bathroom mirror. At work, you can wait until a coworker leaves their desk and put it on their computer. At a friend’s house you could put it in the mailbox or on a picture frame. By choosing to write notes, you also give someone something they may treasure forever. 

Let’s keep the conversation going: What would make you set aside time for practicing gratitude out of excitement?