Feel the winter blues creeping in? A seemingly cold, dark winter can become a season of warmth by simply beginning to foster gratitude in our life.
Studies show that practicing gratitude can help boost our mood, reduce stress, and strengthen the relationships we have. From hosting heartfelt dinners to making a gratitude tree, here's our top ten ways to practice gratitude this winter season.
How to Foster Gratitude More Often This Winter: Our Top 10 Tips
- Write handwritten thank-you notes to parental figures and mentors. This is a great way to reflect on those who have had a positive impact. Spend an evening writing notes and hand them out, asking each person to continue the cycle, too!
- Start a family gratitude tree at home. Set up a small tree with branches in the living room out of cardboard, wire, or wood. Ask family members to write down things they are grateful for on paper ‘leaves’, and watch the tree begin to fill up over the winter.
- Host a heartfelt dinner for the people you’re grateful for. Take the effort to cook a nourishing, warm meal for those you can’t imagine life without, and spend time sharing memories and laughing together. Try one of these 66 warming recipes!
- Volunteer with someone you love. Volunteering is a great way to foster gratitude not only in your own life, but within the community. Spend time at a local soup kitchen or other initiative that excites you, and encourage those you know to join you.
- Start a gratitude journal. We love writing in a gratitude journal for five minutes every night. Simply jot down moments, things, people, or anything else that has made you grateful recently, and come back to it when you feel down for some warmth.
- Give someone a surprise gift. Can’t stop thinking about something someone did for you? Show them you’re thankful by picking up something small for them like a pastry, book, or other small object they’ve been talking about. We love this little list!
- Take a winter walk outdoors. Sometimes the most effective way to feel gratitude in your life is by breathing in the outdoor air! Take a solo winter walk, and find appreciation for some of the sights and sounds around you.
- Create a gratitude collage. Cut up magazines and print pictures of places, people, and moments you’re thankful to have experienced. Glue them on cardboard to create a beautiful reminder of gratitude you can return to whenever you need.
- Donate items to a local charity. A simple and effective way to feel gratitude and give others the opportunity to be grateful, donate unwanted clothes, shoes, books, and games to a local shelter or charity this season.
- End your day with some reflection. We love to spend a few minutes before bed to think about what parts of the day we’re grateful to have experienced. This not only helps foster gratitude over time, but also wind down for a good night’s sleep!
