What are the best ways to practice gratitude daily? How do you become more thankful?
It’s something we hear all the time to practice gratitude. To just be grateful for what we have and have an attitude of gratitude.
This can be super difficult if you’re really not loving life right now. Who am I kidding, you’re hating your life, you’re stressed, you’re overwhelmed at work, maybe you wish you could quit your job, and things are just not going your way.
As cliche as it sounds, and as frustrated as it might make you feel, practicing gratitude daily can change your life – at least your perspective.
Practicing gratitude and being more thankful for the things around you have tons of benefits.
People who practice gratitude daily are more likely to encounter positive experiences, better sleep, stronger immune systems, and overall happiness.
Although you may express gratitude for an achievement like being promoted at work, there’s so much more to be thankful for.
Here are 15 daily ways to practice gratitude and become a more thankful person.
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How to Practice Gratitude Daily
#1. Be More Mindful
From the moment you open your eyes in the morning to the second you go to sleep at night, you should practice being more mindful.
For example, as soon you wake up be grateful for breathing. When you’re getting dressed for the day, be grateful for your ability to move and dress yourself. As you take a step outside, notice the beauty in nature around you. I know this sounds weird and overdoing it, but think of all the people that cannot experience the things you do on a regular basis.
There are people who can’t dress themselves, stuck in hospital beds looking out the window at nature, people who have lost their lives and won’t open their eyes to another day. It’s the smallest thing that we can take for granted!
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So by being mindful and more present, you open yourself up to being more thankful. Even if that’s by being able to put one foot in front of the other and walk.
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#2. See the Good in Everything
Whether you’re having a bad day or going through some hard times, it’s imperative that you see the good in everything. Gratitude is not reserved for just the great times we encounter, they’re for the negative days too.
Practice seeing the good in everything by viewing those difficult situations as learning lessons. I know at the moment it may be hard to understand why you’re going through the situation at hand.
However, know that everything happens for a reason and you’ll never encounter something that you’re not capable of handling. We go through tough times to make ourselves stronger and wiser! So although you can’t see it within the moment, know there’s a learning lesson somewhere within.
Once you make a habit of seeing the good in everything, you’ll for sure begin to see all the things you have to be grateful for.
#3. Keep a Gratitude Journal
Keeping a gratitude journal with all the things you have to be thankful for can help boost the positives within your life. Write down what you’re grateful for, the things you love to do, people/things that make you happy and positive thoughts that come to mind.
You can do this exercise every day, weekly, or monthly and refer back to it when you need some positive thoughts! I advise that you journal weekly as it’s a great way to keep you on track and thinking good thoughts throughout the week.
Having a list of things you’re thankful for is the perfect addition to your bullet journal too!
#4. Focus on Your Strengths
When you focus on your strengths, you’ll naturally do your best and attain top results. Martin Seligman, founder of Positive Psychology states the following: “For a person to be truly happy and live a meaningful life, that person must recognize their personal strengths and use these strengths for the greater good.”
I totally and wholeheartedly agree with his statement for this one reason alone. We can eliminate wasting time doing things that we hate and instead, find happiness by doing what we’re naturally good at and love.
This is nothing but a win-win situation for us; too often we do things that we dread and because we dislike it we don’t deliver our best. This can be quickly resolved by doing more of what we love/are well at and less of what we hate.
So, what’s your superpower? What makes you special or unique?
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#5. Spend Time with the People You Love
Life is too short not to spend time with the people we love! Use your time wisely by scheduling weekly or monthly dates to catch up.
This is a great way to practice the act of gratitude and support your loved ones. For example, you can pick up the check for lunch or dinner.
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Additionally, you can practice gratitude by listening with intent while the other person is speaking. Keeping your cell phone in your bag or pocket shows active listening, alertness, and appreciating the time!
#6. Volunteer and Get Involved
Giving back to others is the epitome of practicing gratitude and uplifting others. We oftentimes take the simplest things for granted in our everyday lives. By volunteering and helping others you unconsciously spread gratitude onto them.
Don’t believe me? Do an act of kindness by helping someone with something simple and note their reaction. I’m sure they’ll instantly be appreciative and show instant gratification.
To find volunteer opportunities within your area, do a quick Google search or inquire about your job. Large companies love to give back and help others through various fun activities and experiences!
If there are no options available in your area, create one yourself. This can be as simple as providing school supplies to children in need. Or dropping off toys at the Salvation Army for children in the foster system. It could even be giving the homeless hot-cooked meals or buying prepared meals to give them.
Create your own volunteer lane if you can’t find one to join; it’s that simple!
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#7. Do an Act of Kindness
Doing acts of kindness is the surefire way to practice gratitude among yourself while spreading positive vibes.
If someone is struggling with their bag, help them. Instead of opening the door for yourself, open it for the person behind you. Pick up the tab for a couple having lunch. Be patient with someone who doesn’t quite understand something.
There are so many ways to do acts of kindness and spread gratitude to others.
#8. Give Genuine Compliments
It takes two seconds to give someone a genuine compliment and brighten their day. When you compliment someone, this gives the same effect as doing an act of kindness for them. It can heighten their self-esteem and possibly encourage them to spread gratitude by complimenting someone else.
Practice this by telling someone they look nice today or giving a kind compliment on their hair. As long as your compliment is genuine and kind, then you’re doing the right thing!
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You’ll one day wake up and be the person known for uplifting others while always having a smile on your face.
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#9. Replace a Negative Thought with a Positive One
Replacing all negative thoughts with a positive one is the best habit a person can have.
It helps you practice gratitude by intentionally removing the negative from your brain. Oftentimes, we can be prisoners in our minds with all the things that we think of on a regular basis.
Fill your mind with good thoughts by clearing out those negative vibes from your mind.
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#10. Don’t Complain
I know this is easier said than done, however, not complaining is a great way to practice gratitude.
When you complain about something, it shows that you’re seeing the glass half empty instead of half full. Try practicing this daily by catching yourself when you’re complaining both verbally and within your thoughts.
Instead, take that complaint and replace it with something you have to be thankful for.
#11. Give Recognition
Giving recognition is an amazing way to practice gratitude and spread positive vibes to others. One way I like to give recognition to others is by acknowledging them and the things they do.
For example, the cleaning ladies at my job always smile when they see me. Why? I intentionally say hello to them, ask them how they’re doing and thank them for their hard work. Every time I buy lunch, I speak to the cashier and she gives me free brownies! Why? I take the time to speak to her and actively listen when she replies. Do you see the pattern here?
These interactions are all genuine and over time create a trusting and healthy relationship that both parties nurture. Wouldn’t you want to walk around making kind acquaintances on a regular basis?
In order to do this, you must stop and think with the intention of all the things that people do. It requires you to move throughout the day being selfless and thinking of others.
Try this exercise for yourself and watch how you brighten someone else’s day.
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#12. Always Say Thank You
I can’t tell you the number of people that walk around and do not say thank you. It’s a horrible habit and the total opposite of practicing gratitude. Anytime someone does something for you, whether it’s big or small, make it a point to thank them.
Additionally, if you do something nice for someone else and do not receive a thank you in response here’s what you can do to bring awareness. Smile and tell that person in a kind voice, “You’re welcome.” People oftentimes will be taken aback and realize their rudeness on the matter.
Typically, a person will apologize for their behavior and hopefully continue on their day with the intention of how they’re impacting others. If the person is continuing to be rude, disengage and don’t let it affect your positive vibes!
#13. Express Yourself
Express yourself by making it point to let your family and friends know how much they mean to you. Additionally, spread that love onto your coworkers and/or acquaintances that may brighten your day while at work or at a store. Have some time for Hygge at work too!
Set aside time within your day to speak with your parents on a regular basis. Or send a kind nurturing text to your family members and friends just because!
The point here is to let people know that you appreciate them and the positive ways in which they make an impact on your life. It’s great to be expressive and make it known while we’re on this earth; not once someone is gone.
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#14. Pay it Forward
Although you should be practicing gratitude every day, it’s a great exercise to “to pay it forward.” What I mean is, whenever someone does something nice for you, do something nice for someone else.
Even better, let that person know that they should now pay your gratitude forward onto another person! This can quickly and easily turn into a day filled with people paying gratitude forward onto others.
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How great would the world be if everyone lived their lives doing wonderful things for others?!
#15. Avoid Negative Content
I’m leaving this for last as it encompasses the one thing that most of us spend our time doing. Avoiding negative content on social media, TV, and other sources is key to staying fulfilled with gratitude. Most people see the word negative and think of just that, negativity.
However, negative can also be content that makes you feel jealous and envious of others. It’s imperative that you rid yourself of that type of content and replace it with positive sources that make you feel good about yourself!
Just think, when you’re in-taking a TV show that’s filled with drama, what are your thoughts? Sure, you may be laughing at the television since it’s not at your expense but still, that type of content is impacting you whether you’re conscious of it or not. This is why it’s good to totally eliminate the negative or severely limit it from your view.
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As for social media, get rid of the negative accounts that spew negativity into the world and make you feel less than. If you’re following someone that makes you second guess yourself, it’s time for that person to go. Putting yourself first is living with gratitude is the only way to experience true happiness overall!
Start Practicing Gratitude in Your Life
Incorporating gratitude into your daily life is actually fun!
Once you begin practicing it on a daily basis, you’ll instantly notice a positive shift. It’s easy to show our gratitude to others when we feel indebted to them or benefited by their actions.
However, it shows the value of a person when they’re grateful and spreading that among others selflessly! We have nothing to lose when it comes to being thankful and showing gratitude to others.
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So take the initiative and start practicing these ways every single day!
Don’t just practice gratitude this November for Thanksgiving, but do so all year long.
Tired of being miserable with your life? Ready to cultivate an attitude of gratitude? Click here for 15 easy ways to practice gratitude daily by @msashleyallison. #Gratitude #Thanksgiving #Mindset #Thankful #Grateful
How do you practice gratitude daily?
More About Guest Contributor
I’m Miss Ashley Allison, your personal development bestie! My goal is to help you drop excuses, dream big, turn your passions into profit and live life on your own terms.
Last Updated on July 26, 2024
kita says
There are so many ways to be grateful and stay that way. I always look for the good in every day and what I do is write down one good thing in my planner that happened for the day
It's All You Boo says
Hey Kita,
There are indeed so many ways to be grateful for. Practicing gratitude and being thankful even for the little things can go a long way. Writing down one good thing in your planner everyday is also a good way of staying grateful and focused on being positive. Continue to look for the good in every day and good luck on your journey to success.
Ashley Allison says
That’s such a great way to practice being grateful! I’m going to implement that into my daily routine. Thank you for reading and sharing that amazing tip!
Mimi Robinson says
I too am a writer, I share my thoughts in my planner. I also like to randomly pay it forward. I’m thankful to be able to help others. Growing up I remember times when my family was in need. Volunteering is also very important to me.
Ashley Allison says
I agree! Paying it forward by helping others and volunteering is a great practice of gratitude. Nonetheless, when we help others, we get our blessings.
Thanks so much for reading!!
It's All You Boo says
Hey Mimi,
That’s great to know. Paying it forward and practicing gratitude are two of the most important things we should be doing on a daily basis. Thanks for sharing your story and keep up the good work!
Viano Dee says
It’s very easy to sulk and complain about life without realizing that everything happens for a reason and there are people who envy the very position you are complaining about.
We have to learn to see the positive side of things and be grateful for what we have, where we are and lesson we are learning or have learned. Nice post.
It's All You Boo says
Hey Viano,
Glad you love it. I agree 100%! It’s very easy to complain about life without realizing that everything happens for a reason. You are there for a reason and some people envy you for just being in that position. Practicing gratitude and learning to see the positive side of things are very important on your road to success. Continue to be thankful for what you have and best of luck!
Ashley Allison says
Valid point there!! I totally agree… instead of thinking life happens to us, we should say life is happening for me! That little switch alone will change the outlook on life significantly.
Thank you so much for reading!!
Jennie says
This is excellent! I’ve been focusing on this in my own life recently. I think your first point, be more mindful is the key to living in gratitude and following through with your other points. Usually we don’t intend to be ungrateful and live in a negative mindset, but sometimes we let life get in the way and are not mindful of our thoughts and attitudes.
It's All You Boo says
Hey Jennie,
Glad you love them and it’s great to know that you have been practicing gratitude. Agreed, we don’t really intend to be ungrateful, however, there are times when we let life get in the way. We just need to be more thankful even for the little things and focus on the good things.
Ashley Allison says
You hit the nail on the head EXACTLY! As you mentioned, sometimes we don’t realize that we’re living in a negative state. In result of that, we do nothing but attract more of the same! Once we become more mindful, it’s easier to be aware of our thoughts, actions, words etc.
Thank you so much for reading!
Jess says
You have such great content and so many resources that are truly helpful. I’m an avid writer, it’s always helped me to find peace with my emotion. Unfortunately, I’ve noticed so much of my writing is expressing sadness. My goal is to learn to express that same amount of sentiment in expressing my gratitude. I really enjoyed reading your post and will definitely use some of the downloadable templates to start! -xoxo, Jess
It's All You Boo says
Hey Jess,
Thank you so much for the kind words. It’s indeed very important to practice gratitude to be at peace with your emotions. Being thankful even for the little things can definitely go a long way. Thanks for reading and good luck on your road to success!
Ashley Allison says
So glad to hear that you’re going to use the same amount of sentiment in expressing your gratitude! That’s an awesome start! So glad to hear that you enjoyed the post… thank you so much for reading!
Female Mind Unleashed says
My favorites are gratitude journaling and spending time with friends. Well, I also find meditation to work too… so many options! Staying consistent is key, I’ve found. I’ll definitely check back in for more inspiration when I need it!
It's All You Boo says
Hey Female Mind Unleashed,
Glad you love them. Gratitude journal and spending time with friends are my favorites too! Agreed, staying consistent is the key. Being grateful even for the little things can definitely go a long way, we just always need to find something to be thankful for everyday and stay consistent.
Ashley Allison says
So many options indeed! I agree that staying consistent is key. Thank you so much for reading!!
Heena says
Very important read to change life and remove negativity and feel bliss in life. Few months back I got introduced to this concept of gratitude and expressing thankfulness. Can’t explain how my life change and am feeling happy and thankful for every small thing in my life. Thanks for reminding again.
It's All You Boo says
Hey Heena,
It’s great to know that practicing gratitude has changed your life. Removing all the negativity and just focusing on what we have helps us feel contented and happy. Continue to be thankful even for the little things, keep it up!
Ashley Allison says
I’m so glad to hear how much your life has changed after learning about gratitude! It definitely changed mine for the better as well! Thank you so much for reading!!
Margaret Smith says
These are all such great ideas. I know my gratitude journal made a huge difference in my life.
It's All You Boo says
Hey Margaret. Glad you love them. Having a gratitude journal is such a great idea that everyone should have. Practicing gratitude and being more thankful can create a huge difference in our lives. Keep it up!
Ashley Allison says
Thank you so much for reading!! I’m glad the post resonated with you and I agree that making a gratitude journal is so helpful!
Madi Rowan says
Love this! Practicing gratitude is so powerful in so many ways! Such a mood booster too!
-madi xo
It's All You Boo says
Hey Madi,
Glad you love them. Practicing gratitude and being more thankful is indeed very powerful. It helps us see the world differently and makes us more positive towards our outlook in life.
Ashley Allison says
Thanks so much!! I agree it’s so powerful and definitely a mood booster! Practicing gratitude on a regular basis transformed my life for the better. Thank you again for reading!
Joyce Brewer says
I’m working to see the good in all things right now. This summer I had a bunch of setbacks and I’m working on changing my outlook to see the lesson in them.
Ashley Allison says
A great way to see all the good in things is by knowing that life is happening FOR YOU. We sometimes unconsciously live life thinking it’s happening to us but really, it’s all for us. Try to see the underlining meaning in everything… it’s always a positive to a negative situation. All learning lessons to make us better and stronger people!
Thank you so much for reading!!
It's All You Boo says
Hey Joyce,
Glad to know that. It’s indeed very important to see the good things in everyone and everything. Practicing gratitude and being thankful even for the little things can go a long way. It creates a positive aura not just for our own good but also for the people around us. Good luck on your road to changing your outlook in life!
D.Irie says
Im definitely a writer. I like to focus on what im thankful for before i start my day and then at the end of the day write down 1 great thing that happened.
Great tips
It's All You Boo says
Hey D.Irie,
Thanks for sharing that. We can definitely learn a lot from each other. Focusing on things that we’re grateful for instead of the worries and fears is very important for our emotional well-being. Starting each day with a grateful heart is something that we all should be doing. Keep it up!
Kiwi says
I love reading your blog always filled with great life nuggets! I am being more mindful that is my 2019 and from here on out because I don’t think I was doing a good job before.
It's All You Boo says
Hey Kiwi,
Thank you! Glad these tips inspire you to practice gratitude and become more thankful in your day to day life. Always remember to be thankful even for the little things.
Stacie says
These are great tips. I admit I need to practice gratitude a lot more than I currently do.
It's All You Boo says
Hey Stacie,
Glad you love them. Practicing gratitude is indeed very important in our daily lives. It helps us see the world differently. The more grateful we are, the more we attract positive vibes into our lives.
Mimi says
When I was living a very heavy time of my life I’ve started meditating, one of the things was to think about 5 things that made you happy that day, they could be super small too. I’ve stopped meditating but I kind of kept that habit of noticing those small things (AKA my dog being cute and coffee XD)
It's All You Boo says
Hey Mimi,
It’s great to know that you have been practicing gratitude. Noticing small things and being more thankful about anything that life has to offer is the best practice.
patricia says
You’ve got so many great ideas here! I love “volunteering,” “random acts of kindness” and “keeping a journal.” Those things for sure really make you more aware of the good in life!
It's All You Boo says
Hey Patricia,
It’s great to know that you have been volunteering to practice gratitude. These are definitely perfect ways to be more thankful about life.
Julie says
This is so true! Gratitude can really be the difference between being happy and not. This is such great practical advice to actually do it.
It's All You Boo says
Hey Julie,
Agreed, gratitude can be the difference between being happy and not. So glad you love these tips on practicing gratitude and becoming more thankful. Thank you so much for reading!
Amber S Battishill says
As a mindfulness teacher, I love seeing others share more about this! Great list of ideas that others can use!
It's All You Boo says
Hey Amber,
Thank you! I’m so glad you love these tips on practicing gratitude and becoming more thankful. Thanks for reading and best of luck on your journey to success.
Emily | Good Mom Living says
This is such an amazing list! Avoiding negative content and replacing a negative thought with a positive one are both excellent ways to practice gratitude. Thanks so much. I need to be more grateful.
Emily | Good Mom Living
It's All You Boo says
Hey Emily,
Glad you love these tips on practicing gratitude. Agreed, avoiding negative content and replacing a negative thought with a positive one are both excellent ways to practice gratitude. Yes! we all need to be more grateful. Thanks for reading and best of luck on your road to success!
Emman Damian says
I think it’s good to practice being grateful and thankful for all the blessings we have received daily. It also helps us be more humble and patient. We all need to be optimistic!
It's All You Boo says
Hey Emman,
Agreed, it’s very important to practice being grateful and thankful for all the blessings we have received. Being more thankful helps us become more humble, patient and optimistic. Thanks for reading!
Nishtha says
Love this post! So imp to have an attitude of gratitude. I follow many from your list but can def add more
It's All You Boo says
Hey Nishtha,
Glad you love these tips on practicing gratitude. Being more thankful is very important as it leads us to live a positive life. Thanks for reading and best of luck on your road to success.
Melissa Cushing says
This is a beautiful post and one that is super important. It is a must to be grateful for everythign as each and every day is a gift 😉 Thank you for the reminder.
It's All You Boo says
Hey Melissa,
I’m so glad you love these tips on practicing gratitude. Agreed, it is a must to be grateful for everything, even the smallest things. Thanks for reading and best of luck on your journey to success.
Jenny says
I really liked this post, thank you! I liked the “say ‘you’re welcome'” to people who don’t acknowledge your act of kindness towards them 🙂
It's All You Boo says
Hey Jenny,
I’m so glad you love these tips on practicing gratitude. Agreed, saying you’re welcome to people who don’t acknowledge your act of kindness can be a good start. Thanks for reading!
Rose Ann Sales says
I do most of these everyday not just for gratitude but also for my wellness.
It's All You Boo says
Hey Rose Ann,
That’s great to know! It’s very important to practice gratitude and be more thankful even for the little things. Thanks for reading and best of luck on your journey to success.