How to Incorporate Gratitude Into Your Routine

Gratitude is simply the practice of writing down or thinking what you are grateful for in 
your life. When you express gratitude, you take your mind over the situations that might 
be causing you stress or worry, and instead focus on the many blessings in your life.

No matter what is going on in your life, there is always something to be grateful for. By 
having a regular gratitude practice in your routine, it helps to shift your mindset to a 
more positive one, and allows you to reduce stress, worry, and anxiety at the same time.

Here are some tips for adding a gratitude practice into your routine.


Set Your Intentions

Setting intentions is a great way to add anything to your routine. This is when you 
choose what you want to do, and come up with the details in it. In this case, it will be 
setting the intention to express gratitude every day.

Start by setting an intention to cultivate a gratitude practice in your daily routine. 
Recognize the importance of gratitude and its potential impact on your well-being. Set a 
clear intention to incorporate gratitude into your daily life.

Decide on a specific time of day that works best for you to practice gratitude. It could be 
in the morning, before bed, during a meal, or any other time that fits seamlessly into 
your routine. Consistency is key, so choose a time that you can commit to regularly.


Decide on Your Gratitude Format

One of the most popular ways to practice gratitude is to keep a gratitude journal. Get a 
notebook or a journal specifically for this purpose. When you write your gratitude down, 
aim for about 5-10 things, no matter how small they might seem to you. If it is something 
that makes you happy or feel like you are blessed, then it is something to be grateful for.

However, if there is a day when you don’t have time for journaling, or simply don’t want 
to write anything down, you can simply think of your gratitude in your mind. When you 
have a few quiet minutes, go inward and think of everything you are grateful for. 
Remember the good things that happen, think fondly of happy memories, be mindful 
about what you feel gratitude for. This is often enough.


Be Mindful While You Write Your Gratitude

Gratitude doesn't have to be reserved only for specific times of the day or when writing 
in a journal. You can practice gratitude in the present moment by paying attention to the 
things you are grateful for as they happen. Notice the beauty in nature, appreciate the 
taste of your food, or express gratitude for the people around you. Be mindful of the 
present moment and practice gratitude as a way of life.


Add it to Your Daily Routine

Lastly, you will add gratitude to your daily routine. To make this easy, have a designated 
time of day when you will journal your gratitude. If you already have a journal practice, 
then that is the perfect time to also write down what you are grateful for. However, you 
can also add it to other times of the day, such as shortly after waking up, before bed, 
your lunch break at work, or the afternoon when your kids are doing homework.


