While we should always have an attitude of gratitude, November is definitely a month where we can put forth a special effort in making gratitude a habit! Life gets so busy and hectic sometimes- it’s important to make time for these things that are a little less urgent- but are just as, if not more important!

While it’s easy to say we should have an attitude of gratitude, how do we actually implement that and make it happen? It helps to have some more concrete ideas for sure! And here’s a few to get you started!

*Keep a gratitude journal. Every day in the month of November, end the day by writing down 3 things you are grateful for. You can think as broadly or as specifically as you want, but I think it’s more meaningful when you write down things specific to that day, such as “I’m grateful for a chiropractor that has the knowledge to help me get rid of back pain”, or “I’m grateful my son had the opportunity to score a goal in soccer today!”. It takes 21 days to make a habit, so if you actually implement this for the entire month of November, you could start a habit that not only blesses you for the month of November, but for life!

*Meditate daily. Maybe you’re not a fan of writing things down. If that’s the case, take 5-10 minutes every day to meditate or pray, and reflect on the many things you are grateful for.

*Create a gratitude list. If a daily commitment sounds a little daunting, challenge yourself to set aside an hour to create a huge list of things you’re grateful for. It might be hard at first (especially after you’ve written down the first few things), but as you get in the zone, you’ll start remembering and realizing more and more things and pretty soon your hand won’t be able to keep up with your brain as you realize just how much you have to be grateful for!

*Make a gratitude tree. This is a great one if you have kids. Make a giant paper tree to put on the wall, or create a more elegant centerpiece with some sticks from the craft store. Each day, have everyone write down one thing they are grateful for- either on a paper leaf for your paper tree, or on a decorative paper leaf for your centerpiece. As each day passes your tree will look more and more beautiful as it becomes full with leaves. This is a great visual for little ones, too.

*Fill a gratitude jar. If you don’t have the space or resources to create a gratitude tree, a jar is a great substitute! Get a big, empty glass jar and set it somewhere prominent in your home, where everyone can see it easily (the kitchen is a great place for this!) Each day, have everyone write down one thing they are grateful for, and put it in the jar. You’ll see your jar fill up as the month goes on, reminding you of how much you have to be grateful for! It could even make a specially memorable Thanksgiving if you take the time to read the things you’ve put in your jar over Thanksgiving dinner.

*Serve. Sometimes a great way to help us retain a more thankful attitude is by serving others. Make a special service calendar, and each day write in your plan to do something for someone else- serve in the local homeless shelter’s kitchen, take a meal to someone, bake cookies for a lonely neighbor, etc. Then make sure to follow through with your plan each day!

*Get out in nature. It’s a little harder to get outside this time of year, but there’s definitely something about being in nature that fills one’s heart with gratitude! Take a drive up the mountains, stroll down the beach or lakeshore, or even take a walk in your neighborhood. You’ll be giving yourself some much-needed Vitamin D, and you’ll be able to enjoy this beautiful earth which makes it easy to feel grateful!

There are a lot of ways to help cultivate an attitude of gratitude, and I challenge you to try at least one this month! You’ll find that this holiday season becomes much more meaningful and memorable. Grateful people are happy people!