A really easy way to start a gratitude practice is to make a habit of counting your blessings morning and evening. You don’t even have to write them down, like in a gratitude diary, if it seems too overwhelming. It is enough to take a few minutes when you wake up and before you go to bed to begin to cement this new practice into your routine. It will not be long before you realize that the blessings are abundant. Here are some tips to help you get started.
Start small
Easing of habits is usually the best approach. If you make it easier, you will be more inclined to move forward. So try not to put too much pressure on yourself when you are just starting to come up with great examples of gratitude. Just appreciating the bed in which you start and end the day can be something you can add to your first list. Sometimes the mere recognition of a tiny blessing can have a great effect.
Add it On
A helpful way to remember your new gratitude habit is to add it to your existing routine. Whatever you normally do in the morning and evening, be sure to spend a few minutes thinking about what makes you happy. For example, if you drink tea every morning, that would be a good connection you could make. If you sit down for tea, you will soon be reminded to think about your three things.
Creating visual memories
If you find yourself forgetting or skipping your new task, add some visual clues to your environment. Post-it notes are great for this. Stick one of them on your bedside table. Add another one to your bathroom mirror. Technology is also useful for memories. Set an alarm on your phone so you don’t leave the house or fall asleep without taking the time to think about what makes you grateful.
Turn it Around
You can also try the opposite. Turn complaints into something positive. Maybe you wake up with a sore back and do not want to get out of bed. It may seem obvious, but remembering that you are healthy overall and that you have a safe place to sleep can do wonders for your outlook. Try to find the silver lining. It really works.
Taking notes
A good habit can be to write things down during the day when they happen. It only takes a few seconds to write down what you are grateful for at that moment. You can think about it later during your quiet bedtime.
Hopefully now you see that it is not so difficult to get used to recognizing the good in life. A few small changes in your routine, and you will find that it is actually quite easy to implement this practice.
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