Start a Gratitude Journal Today……Okay, so I’m gonna say it right out loud before I lose you: gratitude journal.
Yes. That thing your therapist, yoga teacher, and probably some random girl on TikTok has been yelling at you about for years.
And look—I get it. The words gratitude journal sound like something people do while sipping green juice in $120 leggings, whispering affirmations to their Himalayan salt lamps. But hear me out, because starting a gratitude journal kinda saved my sanity—and if I, a lifelong complainer who once yelled at a toaster, can do it, you definitely can.
The Day I Snapped (a.k.a. How This All Started)
So picture this:
It’s Tuesday. My car won’t start, my cat puked on my shoe, and I found myself crying in the Starbucks drive-thru because they were out of oat milk. Like—full, embarrassing ugly cry while the barista pretended not to notice.
That night, my friend sent me a text:
“Maybe try writing a gratitude journal? Just three things before bed. Tiny stuff. You’ll feel better.”
I rolled my eyes so hard I swear they nearly left my body. But for some reason—probably because I had nothing left to lose—I grabbed an old notebook and wrote:
- Grateful my cat missed the carpet.
- Grateful the barista didn’t call the cops on me.
- Grateful I didn’t marry my high school boyfriend.
That was it. Didn’t feel magical. Didn’t unlock inner peace. Just three weird bullet points. But the next morning… something felt different.
Not “I’m healed, the universe loves me” different. More like, “Huh, maybe my brain won’t eat me alive today.”
And that was enough to keep going.
Why You Should Start a Gratitude Journal Today
I’m not gonna hit you with research papers (though yes, there are studies about gratitude improving happiness, sleep, and even your immune system—Google it). I’m gonna tell you why it actually works in real life—like, for regular messy humans.
- Because it forces you to notice the tiny stuff.
Like the stranger who held the door when your hands were full. Or that bag of chips you forgot you had in the pantry. - Because your brain is kinda dumb.
It believes what you feed it. If you’re always doomscrolling and ranting about how life sucks—guess what? Life feels like it sucks. But if you tell it “Hey, here are three cool things today”? Your brain goes, “Ohhh, we’re fine. Cool.” - Because it’s a low-bar habit.
You don’t need a fancy planner. Don’t need a system. Don’t need stickers (unless you want stickers—in which case, live your truth). Just grab a pen, scribble a sentence, done.
But What If You’re Bad at It?
Oh, you will be. At first.
I was terrible. My early entries were like:
- “Grateful my socks matched today.”
- “Grateful I didn’t get food poisoning.”
- “Grateful Netflix still exists.”
Super profound, right? 🙃
But here’s the thing—gratitude journaling isn’t about writing Hallmark-worthy lines. It’s about paying attention. Even dumb stuff counts. Especially dumb stuff. Some days, “grateful for tacos” is as spiritual as it gets.
And honestly? That’s enough.
How to Actually Start (Zero-Pressure Version)
Here’s my not-at-all-official, slightly chaotic guide:
- Find literally any notebook.
An old school spiral? Half-used planner from 2017? The back of junk mail? Doesn’t matter. Stop pretending you need the “perfect” journal. - Decide on a number.
Three is my sweet spot. Some people do five. Some days I manage one. Don’t overthink it. - Pick a time.
I like before bed because my brain’s quieter (and by quieter, I mean less screamy). You might do mornings while inhaling coffee. - Don’t censor yourself.
It can be “grateful for my dog’s stupid floppy ears” or “grateful I survived today without throat-punching anyone.” Both valid. - Keep it messy.
Spelling mistakes? Weird doodles? Half-finished sentences? Perfect. This isn’t a homework assignment.
Stuff That Surprised Me After a Month
- My rants got shorter. I still complain (obviously—I’m not a monk), but it takes less space in my head now.
- Random little joys started standing out in the moment. Like, I’d be eating fries and think, “Ooh this can go in the journal later.” Suddenly, fries taste like a life event.
- Sleep actually got better. No clue why. Maybe because I wasn’t ending the day replaying arguments with my middle school gym teacher.
You Don’t Have to Do It Forever (But You Might Want To)
Here’s the truth: I skip days. Sometimes weeks. Nobody’s grading me. But whenever life feels heavy, the journal’s like this weird little anchor.
One time I looked back and saw I’d written “grateful for sunshine on the sidewalk” like… 47 times. Guess what? I actually started noticing sunshine more. Which sounds corny as hell but also kind of wonderful.
And that’s why I think everyone—yes, even the eye-rollers—should start a gratitude journal today. Worst case? You waste five minutes writing nonsense. Best case? You accidentally make your life feel better.
Quick Fire Start a Gratitude Journal Today Prompts
- What made you laugh today (even a little)?
- Something you smelled that wasn’t gross.
- A song that hit just right.
- A person who didn’t annoy you (low bar, but it works).
- The last food that made you do the happy dance.
Pro tip: answering these in meme format is highly encouraged.
Final Thought: Start a Gratitude Journal Today
Look, I’m not saying gratitude journaling is a cure-all. You can still have bad days. You’ll still cry in a Starbucks line at some point (that’s just life).
But I am saying: try it. Today. Tonight. Scribble three weird things down and see what happens.
Because the truth is—your life already has good moments. You just might not be noticing them yet.
And once you do? It’s like finding $20 in your jeans pocket. Except it happens every day.
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