As children, we traced our little hands onto construction paper, and on each finger, we put something we were grateful for; in high school, we had “turkey” and mashed potato school lunches, and now, in college, we are too busy to do anything about it. Maybe the reason for Thanksgiving has changed over the years—I long for a homemade meal after all these months at school—but there is always a way to change it.
The semester is in full swing by November; there are deadlines and essays, and tests, one may wish for it all to slow down. Thanksgiving break comes at a perfect time to reconnect with family and take the deep breaths we all deserve. But there is a way to keep the grateful energy all year—without getting in the way of deadlines, essays, and tests.
One of the easiest ways to keep yourself grateful is having a gratitude journal. By writing down a few things that you’re thankful for, you’re able to slow yourself down and keep your head up. You may be saying, “I hate writing! I don’t have any paper; I only use my iPad!”. Well, you’re in luck! There are countless apps and notes features for you to have a gorgeous online gratitude journal! My favorites to use are Microsoft OneNote and Apple Notes, depending on what device you’re on.
Another way to stay up with your gratitude is just speaking it into the universe! A fun thing my roommates and I have integrated into our nighttime routine is doing our highs and lows of the day. By taking a little time to really think over your day and break it down, you allow yourself to see the slivers of happiness no matter how difficult or stressful the day may have been. You can recognize the frustrations of the day by also highlighting the things that made you happy.
Overall, there are so many ways to add a little gratefulness outside the Thanksgiving holiday. But this November, go home, relax, and spend a little time thinking about the highs and lows you’ve been through this year.