Self-Care Experiment #5 - Gratitude Journaling

When life gets busy—or hard—it’s easy to forget the good stuff. That’s where gratitude journaling comes in. And for me, it’s more than just a habit—it’s a lifeline.

I first started this practice in 2017, not long after I had a hysterectomy and unknowingly entered early menopause. I didn’t have the language for what was happening at the time, but looking back, I can see how lost I felt. Gratitude journaling gave me a moment of stillness, a way to gently shift my focus, and something positive to hold onto.

At the start, I wrote three to five things I was grateful for each day. Now? I keep it simple. I use a Passion Planner (they have free PDF downloads!) with a monthly layout, and I write down just one good thing each day—something I’m grateful for, something that made me smile, or a small win. And I reward myself with a sticker (because yes, I still love stickers).

Here’s a peek at my recent entries:

• Thank you, Sara, for your beautiful cottage

• Lovely to reconnect with Tori today

• Grateful for ChatGPT as a sounding board

• Appreciating my amazing library team

• Made it to the long weekend

• A deeply relaxing Good Friday

• Took Barney to the beach again—finally!

None of these are life-changing moments—but that’s the magic. This practice rewires your brain to notice the little things. And when life feels uncertain or exhausting, it’s those tiny joys that help us shift out of fight-or-flight and into something softer.

If you want to try this yourself, here’s the best part: you get to make it yours. You can use a fancy journal or the back of a shopping list. Write one thing or five. Add stickers or keep it simple. There’s no wrong way.

Want a gentle way to keep track? Download my free habit tracker here—it’s a simple, printable tool to help you start and sustain new habits like this one.

Let me know if you try it—and what small thing you're grateful for today. Share in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you.