5 Ways to Activate Your Gratitude That Aren't Journaling

“Want an attitude of gratitude but don’t have the time to journal? Here are 5 scientifically proven ways to activate it in your daily life

1. Ignite Gratitude with Music

There is scientific evidence to prove that music can influence our memories. To embrace the practice of gratitude, first, we need to have experienced memories to be grateful for. Revisiting those memories is even more powerful and just the simplest thought of a song you love can spike our dopamine levels within the brain. A study concluded how songs we listened to through the ages of 12-22 have the most impact when it comes to igniting gratitude and creating everlasting memories. So, take the time to create your very own gratitude playlist and embark on a journey down memory lane to activate your gratitude and relive the nostalgia.

2. Collective Memory

The #photodump isn’t just a millennial trend, it can help to trigger feelings of gratitude. The photo dump is a series of photos shared across a carousel. Unlike the perfectly edited images often shared online, photo dumps are a random collection of memories curated by the user with a focus on things or moments they are grateful for. For example, it could include that perfect plump peach you ate, an autumnal scene or your cat peacefully sleeping. It can be fun to post these monthly, so at the end of the year you have 12 albums of grateful memories.

3. Post-It Prompts

Writing notes of gratitude to yourself can have a long-term effect on your day when written in the morning, according to one gratitude study. Think about areas of your home that you frequent most, maybe your bathroom mirror, bedside table or fridge, and take the time to write a small note to yourself. These notes should be short and snappy and should be a celebration of you.

To get started, think of one personality trait you like about yourself. Even better, you can ask your friends and family to describe you with three positive words. Grab a Post-it note and stick it somewhere special to remind yourself of how great you truly are! You can also write a Post-it note to a loved one, put it somewhere you know they will see it and spread your gratitude even further.

4. Shop Locally

After the pandemic we all became clickbait addicts, from clothes and groceries to gifts, online shopping became bigger news than ever before. However, once the pandemic dwindled, local shops re-opened their doors, restaurants served up fresh food again and farmers’ markets re-emerged making us all feel grateful for our local amenities like never before. Shopping locally and seasonally, especially when it comes to fresh produce like fruits, vegetables, meat and fish is so important, not only is it better for the environment but it’s also far more nutritious. On top of this, it is also showing your appreciation for the people who harvest your food locally and this has been proven to have substantial benefits for our mental wellbeing.

5. Mood Board

Visualizing what you desire can elicit positive enlightenment for formulating goals but also remind us of what we are grateful for. If you are a visual storyteller, then grab some old magazines and books or even draw out what brings you happiness and what it is you want to visualize for your future self. This simple practice may seem childlike, but creating a mood board (or, as we like to call it, a dream board) focuses you, giving you direction and purpose.”

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✨Takeaway: Journaling is a popular way to practice gratitude. But not everyone has the time to write down their ideas and feelings, and not everyone feels motivated every day. So, these are five alternatives that will help you practice gratitude.

✨Reflection: What’s your favorite way to practice gratitude?

#Gratitude #Appreciation #Wellness #Wellbeing #Thankful