Make Your Own Gratitude Jar
While being grateful seems simple enough in theory, it can actually be hard to put into practice. We can get so caught up in our busy schedules that we often forget to pause and think about the things and people we are thankful for.
Today’s DIY activity is all about gratitude. Specifically, it’s about implementing practical tools to remember to be grateful—in this case, a gratitude jar! One thing we love about this activity is that it can be as simple or as creative as you want it to be. We’ll share a few ideas for different kinds of gratitude jars below, but give yourself the freedom to do whatever works best for your family! The purpose of a gratitude jar isn’t to have a fancy jar that ends up collecting dust; the point is to have a physical reminder to be thankful every single day.
What is a Gratitude Jar?
A gratitude jar couldn’t be more simple. It is essentially a container filled with strips of paper that are filled with things you are thankful for. The idea is to implement intentional thankfulness throughout your life, and then look back occasionally on the papers in the jar. Upon looking back on the papers in your jar, you’ll likely be reminded of many things you already forgot you were thankful for!
How to Use a Gratitude Jar
There’s really no right or wrong way to use a gratitude jar, as long as you’re adding to it! Some people will add one new piece of paper to the jar each day, while others might do more or less. Families might have one collective gratitude jar for everyone to put their papers in. Or, each individual might make their own gratitude jar to collect their personal gratitudes. Either way, make it a point to share what’s in your jar(s) every once in a while. Thanksgiving dinner is a perfect time to pull out your gratitude and look through its contents.
What’ll You Need
- A Jar—any kind of jar will work! An old salsa jar, a mason jar, or even just a container from your Tupperware drawer.
- Paper—construction paper, printer paper, post-it notes, you name it. If you’re using large pieces of paper, you’ll want to cut them into smaller strips before writing on them.
- Writing utensils—markers, pens, crayons, etc.
That’s it! It’s up to you how simple or decorated you want your gratitude jars to be. You can paint them, cover them with stickers, or even leave them plain! Again, the point with this exercise isn’t about the jar; it’s about the gratitude.
If you’re looking for different ways to decorate your jar, a quick Google search will give you plenty of inspiration!
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