How to Keep a Gratitude Journal with Rocketbook
Do you ever find yourself getting snappy during the holidays or when your schedule is busier than usual? The start of a new year can bring logistical and emotional challenges and drive even the most organized person a little crazy.
Fortunately, there’s something you can do to help yourself feel more positive during busy times throughout the year. All you need is a Rocketbook and just 5 minutes a day. It’s simple: keep a gratitude journal.
This post originally appeared as a paid post on the Rocketbook Blog. The Rocketbook Everlast is a reusable smart notebook. You can upload your handwritten notes to Evernote, Google Drive, OneNote and other cloud applications using the Rocketbook app. When you’ve filled up the notebook, just use water to erase your notes. I’ve shared how I use my Rocketbook to keep life running smoothly.
GRATITUDE IS GOOD FOR YOU
Did you know that people who practice gratitude are physically healthier than others? That’s right – people who make it a habit to be grateful report fewer aches and pains, and feel more healthy, than those who don’t. Grateful people even sleep better! Gratitude has psychological benefits too. Studies show that gratitude reduces negative emotions, increasing happiness and lifting depression. Being grateful also has a powerful effect on your relationships. By feeling and expressing appreciation for your loved ones, you’ll strengthen bonds and foster empathy. Gratitude is a pretty great habit to cultivate year round. If you have a Rocketbook, you won’t believe how easy it is to practice being thankful in just a few minutes a day.
PRACTICING GRATITUDE
Keeping a gratitude journal is a great way to remind yourself of the things you are grateful for. You can even use your Rocketbook to keep your journal, and to maintain a record of your writings.
FIND SPACE IN YOUR ROCKETBOOK
First, devote some space in your Rocketbook to the gratitude journal. Even if you use your notebook for everything and you can only dedicate two pages, that’s plenty! Label the pages in a way that will jog your memory in case your notes try to overtake the gratitude journal! You may want to use the first few pages of your notebook as your gratitude journal, so you’ll glance at the things you’ve written each time you take notes.
FIND SPACE IN YOUR DAY
Now that you have a physical spot to write down your thoughts, find time in your day. To develop a habit that you can maintain, identify a time of day during which you can devote five minutes to keeping your gratitude journal. It might be first thing in morning, before the rest of the house is up. It could be during breakfast, the five minutes before you go to bed, or your commute time (if you ride public transportation). As long as it fits into your life, you can build the practice of gratitude in almost any time! The key is to choose a time and stick with it.
NOT A WRITER? TRY A BULLET JOURNAL!
Feeling daunted by the idea of a journal? Don’t be! This doesn’t have to be a long story. Start by writing just a few sentences, or even words. One day might be as simple as:
- The tree outside my office window
- My friend, Tara
- Hazelnut coffee
Don’t pressure yourself to be deep or insightful or anything. Just take the good as it comes, whether it’s mundane or profound. To learn more about bullet journaling, check out How to Bullet Journal with Your Rocketbook.
KEEP A RECORD
Since you’re using a Rocketbook, you can keep an electronic gratitude journal to refer back to any time. When you’re writing your gratitude thoughts for the day, make sure to date your post. Then upload your thoughts to a special “Gratitude” folder. It can be pretty fun and rewarding to refer back to your gratitude journal, and re-reading your thoughts will inevitably spark a happy memory.
