I’ve mentioned this before, but November just feels different, you know? The air turns crisp…unless you are in Michigan. Then you have weirdly warm temps for far too long and then BAM! It’s winter! But this allows for our fluffy blankets to come out, and very quickly, we embrace it all and start to slow down a bit. We also start to lean into gratitude a little more. While saying “I am thankful for my family” is nice, this month is the perfect time to get a little more creative with the ways we practice gratitude each day.
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Creative Gratitude Practices to Incorporate
If you’re anything like me, then you are craving some simple, yet meaningful ways to infuse joy into your brisk November routine. These are both fun and fresh, but also very doable gratitude practices that will make your whole month feel warmer…inside and out!
The 30 Day Gratitude Jar Challenge
Yes, I realize we are halfway through November…just extend this into December, or keep going for…well…forever! What you need to do is grab a mason jar or a fish bowl would be cute, cut up some little slips of paper, and start writing down one thin you’re grateful for each day. But here’s the trick…be specific. Instead of writing “my husband”, try writing something specific that he does that you are grateful for. By the end of the month (or middle of December), you will have a jar overflowing with memories. If you are more of a digital person, go to the app store and download the Gratitude Jar app. You can type something out each day. It will be added to the jar. When you need a reminder, just “shake the jar” and you will be presented with something you put in the jar!
A Cozy Morning Gratitude Ritual
Before you even touch your phone (or after if you use your phone as your alarm…you can turn it off), take 3-5 minutes to write down three things you are grateful for. Not huge things. Little things. Things like:
- The smell of your favorite coffee
- Your dog snoring under the covers
- The heated steering wheel in your car
This sets your brain up for a more positive, grounded day. Let’s just say, your nervous system will thank you for this!
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“I Love That For Me” Walks
Bundle yourself up, step outside, put on your favorite playlist or podcast, and take a slow walk. As you walk, mentally call out anything beautiful, peaceful, or mood boosting that you notice. For example:
- “I love the way these leaves crunch”
- “I love that the sun is actually out today”
- I love that my legs carry me through life”
It’s grounding, energizing, and borderline therapeutic. Just like the cozy morning gratitude ritual, it sets your brain up to see the positive around you.
The November Gratitude Photo Project
This is easy. Take a photo every day of something you’re grateful for. It can be big or tiny. Things like:
- A pretty leaf
- The book you can’t put down
- Your delicious lunch (yes, it’s OK to take a picture of your food)
- A gym moment that made you proud
- The last of the fall decor before Christmas takes over
By the end of the your 30 days, you will have a photo album on your phone of everything you are grateful for!
Be Thankful for Your Body
We don’t always like our bodies, but when we stop to think about every single thing our body does for us, it’s pretty amazing. So take a moment to write down one thing your body did for you today. Examples include:
- “My legs carried me through that treadmill walk”
- My stomach digested my breakfast like a champ”
- My eyes let me read that cozy novel”
Being grateful for yourself and your body and showing yourself some compassion is one heck of a November glow up!
A “Gratitude Reset” Night Once a Week
Pick one night each week to unplug and reset. We live in such a digital age that it’s exhausting. Both mentally, physically, and emotionally. Your reset could look like:
- Lighting candles
- Taking a warm bath
- Reading
- Curing up in your softest blanket
- Writing a list of things you are thankful for from the past week
A calm night is the ultimate mental reset. Especially before the holidays!
Why This Matters
Not only does practicing gratitude increase happiness and reduce stress, but it also helps you feel more grounded and connected during a season that can be very hectic. It shifts your focus from what’s missing to what’s already beautiful in your life…and that shift? it changes everything! So, give yourself permission to slow down, savor the little things, and find gratitude in the moments that often go unnoticed. You don’t need elaborate journals (though, it’s OK if you want them), but it’s the small, intentional practices that remind you of all the goodness surrounding you.
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