Today is the day to start your gratitude journal. Make it simple. Make it easy. No more procrastination. I’m starting mine. Finally. Why?

I had a bad morning this morning. I forgot to set my alarm which means I didn’t get up in time to get my work done before my children got up. Which means my blog post didn’t get up on time and I didn’t do my other work that actually brings money into our home to help with bills. It left me irritable and frustrated.

I decided to write a post on gratitude in the hopes that it would help turn this bad morning into a good day. The more I read about gratitude the more I realize that it is a powerful tool to keep ourselves strong mentally, physically, and spiritually.

I have always wanted to keep a gratitude journal and, since a portion of this website is about the benefits of a journal, I’ve decided to keep it here on the sidebar. One bit of gratitude everyday…that’s a little intimidating, but if I commit to it here, I know it will happen.

Make gratitude a habit.

I read this article from Forbes magazine that lists the benefits of gratitude that are supported by scientific evidence. They include:

1. Better relationships
2. Better physical health
3. Better psychological health
4. Increased empathy, less aggression
5. Better sleep
6. Better self-esteem
7. Better mental strength

I love when science supports what we all know to be true because empirical evidence may help convince the doubters out there.

If you’ve been thinking about keeping a journal and haven’t taken the plunge yet, why not start a gratitude journal today? It can be as easy and fast as you want to make it. Grab a pocket notebook and write one thing you are grateful for each day and tah-dah you’ve started a gratitude journal.

Just in case you need a prompt, here are a two gratitude journal prompt lists to get you started. (I’m going to try my gratitude journal without a prompt list for now.) There are also two printable gratitude journals if you need something like that to get you motivated.

Printable Gratitude Journal from Our Small Hours

Printable Gratitude Journal from Love, Life, and Thyme

52 Week Gratitude Challenge

30 Day Prompt List

Do it.

Make today the day you start your journal. Let’s see what gratitude can do.