This Thanksgiving, as you gather with a slightly bigger group of family or friends than last year, once dinner is done and your (low carb) dessert is served, it’s the perfect time to share what you’re thankful for.
This little exercise in thankfulness might be worth practicing daily instead of just once a year. You can do this in the form of a gratitude journal, where you write down all the things you are grateful for and the positive ways you can influence your life.
Gratitude journaling may help you lower stress levels, improve your mood, , improve your sleep, up your exercise frequency and improve your overall health. Consider the time you spend with your gratitude journal as a powerful opportunity to clear your head and figure out what really matters.
First, make your gratitude journal a habit. If you attach it to another daily habit, like drinking your coffee or tea in the morning or reading a book before you go to bed at night, you’ll probably be more likely to get it done.
It might seem daunting at first when you’re staring at a blank page, but you can give yourself some prompts to get the gratitude flowing. This can include everything from small wins to big goals. Ideas to write about include:
- A favorite family tradition
- Your favorite food
- Look out the window; what do you see that makes you thankful?
- Your favorite activity that makes you happy
- Silly things your family does that make you laugh
- A challenging time that taught you an important lesson
- Your favorite low carb recipe
- The progress you’ve made on your low carb lifestyle
- Your health
- The hard-working people who bring you your mail, check out your groceries or brew the perfect cup of coffee
A gratitude journal can also help you become more successful with your low carb lifestyle. If you’re not already planning and recording your meals and progress, you can incorporate this into your daily journal habit.
This attitude for gratitude may help keep you sane (and grateful!) during the craziness of the holidays, plus your gratitude journal can also help set you up for success when January arrives, and you start thinking about the goals you want to accomplish in 2022.
