Keeping a gratitude journal has shown to increase positivity, improve self-esteem and sleep quality, and reduce stress in daily life.
Cultivating gratitude can help us distance ourselves from toxic emotions and the tendency to ruminate on negativity.
You don’t have to use prompts for your journal, but here are a few you can try if you’re just starting out or are looking for fresh ideas:
1. The greatest gift in my life right now
2. The best compliment I’ve ever received
3. My guilty pleasure
4. My favorite song
5. A challenge I’m grateful for
6. The three best days of my life
7. A family member I’m grateful for
8. Three ways to be a kinder person
9. My favorite room at home
10. Things from nature I’m grateful for
11. A moment when I realized how lucky I am
12. Three good things about someone I don’t get along with
13. The most beautiful place I’ve ever been
14. A friend I can always rely on
15. Every time I laughed in the last 24 hours
16. My favorite sensation
17. My favorite thing about being single/married
18. A weird family tradition I love
19. A time I acted with courage
20. Ten things I like about my job/retirement
21. Something I’ve been able to fix
22. Reasons I’m happy to be alive
23. My favorite qualities I see in my children
24. What I love most about my partner
25. My favorite charity to support
26. Someone who’s forgiven me after I made a mistake
27. Ten things I love about myself
28. A thank-you note I wish I’d written sooner
29. Ten of my favorite possessions
30. My favorite sports team and why I root for them