Gratitude Jar or Gratitude Journal?
If you’ve ever searched for ways to bring more positivity into your life, chances are you’ve stumbled across the idea of a gratitude jar. It’s simple, fun, and gets the whole family involved in focusing on the good things in life. But what if I told you there’s a way to take that same beautiful concept and make it even better—and more permanent?
Enter the gratitude journal, specifically a family gratitude journal. It’s like a gratitude jar but upgraded, more intentional, and something you’ll want to keep forever. We're going to dive into why I made the switch and why I’m so passionate about this practice but first... let's talk about the benefits behind practicing gratitude.
The Benefits of Gratitude
Before you choose between a gratitude jar or a journal, let’s talk about why gratitude itself is so powerful. Practicing gratitude isn’t just about noticing the good; it’s about actively shifting your mindset—and it comes with incredible benefits for both kids and parents, individually and together.
For Kids: Building Empathy and Resilience
Gratitude encourages kids to focus on the positives in their lives, helping them develop empathy and emotional intelligence. When they pause to appreciate the small joys—like a kind word from a friend or extra playtime with their favorite toy—they’re learning to value connection and kindness.
It’s also a tool for resilience. When kids practice gratitude during tough times, they learn to look for the good even when the world feels upside down. These are skills they’ll carry for a lifetime, helping them navigate challenges with a more balanced perspective.
For Parents: A Moment of Peace and Joy
Parenting often feels like a whirlwind of to-dos, but gratitude offers a chance to pause and breathe. Reflecting on what you’re grateful for—big or small—can reduce stress, improve your mood, and even help you sleep better.
For me, gratitude journaling with my family has been a way to savor those fleeting moments of joy (hello, spontaneous family dance parties!) while softening the harder ones. It’s a simple but profound way to reconnect with what really matters.
For Families Together: Connection and Shared Memories
When gratitude becomes a family practice, it deepens your connection. Whether you’re sharing gratitude at dinner, dropping notes into a jar, or writing in a journal, it opens the door to meaningful conversations. You learn what lights each other up, celebrate shared wins, and create a space to support one another.
What Is a Gratitude Jar?
For those new to the idea, a gratitude jar is exactly what it sounds like—a jar where you (and your family, if they’re on board) jot down things you’re grateful for and drop them in. You can decorate the jar, keep a stack of colorful paper nearby, and make it part of your routine.
Some people pull out the notes at the end of the year to reflect on everything they’ve written, while others might dip into the jar on tough days to remind themselves of life’s blessings. Either way, it’s a simple, low-cost way to cultivate gratitude.
It’s also a fun activity for kids. I mean, who doesn’t love the idea of writing on tiny slips of paper and stuffing them into a jar? But let’s be honest—if you’re anything like me, by February, the slips start to pile up on the kitchen counter instead of making their way into the jar, or the jar gets pushed behind the cereal boxes and forgotten. Been there.
What Is a Gratitude Journal?
Now, a gratitude journal takes the same core idea—pausing to reflect on the good—and gives it a home on the page. Instead of loose notes floating around, a gratitude journal becomes a keepsake. It’s organized, intentional, and feels like something you can pass down or revisit for years to come.
In my family, gratitude journaling isn’t just about listing things we’re thankful for. It’s about making it a practice. Every night (or as often as we can manage because let's be real #kidlife), we sit down together and write in our family gratitude journal. Sometimes, it’s quick and lighthearted: “Grateful for pizza night.” Other times, it goes deeper: “Grateful for the talk we had about kindness today.”
The beauty of a journal is that it captures these moments forever. Pages filled with little snippets of life—a mix of the silly and the profound—become a snapshot of your family’s unique journey.
Why a Gratitude Journal Is Better Than a Gratitude Jar
While I loved the idea of our gratitude jar, I started feeling like something was missing. Yes, it was cute, but the notes were often crumpled, misplaced, or forgotten. And even when I remembered to read them, they lacked the story behind the gratitude.
A gratitude journal solves all of that. Here’s why:
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It’s Permanent
The slips of paper in a jar might fade or disappear, but a journal? It’s a forever keepsake. Years from now, you’ll be able to look back at the exact words your five-year-old wrote about why they loved family movie night. Trust me, those little details are priceless. -
It’s Reflective
A journal creates space to write more than just one-liners. You can dig into why something made you grateful or even add drawings, doodles, or pictures. It’s like a family scrapbook meets a mindfulness tool. -
It’s Organized
No more stray slips of paper cluttering your house! Everything is in one place, beautifully bound, and easy to flip through. -
It Grows With You
Unlike a jar, which can feel like a one-off project, a gratitude journal becomes part of your routine. As your family grows and changes, so will the entries. It’s a living, breathing record of your family’s story.
How Our Family Gratitude Journal Came to Be
Here’s the truth: We started with a gratitude jar (and a dinnertime ritual of sharing out loud what we were grateful for). It was during the pandemic, when my husband and I were both working in industries that were severely impacted (travel and entertainment) and we were looking for ways to ground into gratitude during an uncertain period in time. I loved the simplicity of jotting down quick notes and tossing them into the jar, but it didn’t take long for me to feel like something was missing.
And while I love the simplicity (and ease!) of sharing out loud what we’re grateful for, I always thought it would be special to have somewhere more permanent to store our memories and gratitudes.
That’s when our family gratitude journal was born. I wanted something easy to use, that wouldn’t feel overwhelming, and that the whole family could participate in. So, I created a format that allowed us to capture the big and small moments, all in one place.
It’s been a game-changer. Now, instead of misplaced papers and forgotten memories, we have pages filled with memories, reflections, and gratitude. It’s become one of my favorite family traditions, and I can’t wait to see what future years will hold as we keep adding to our journal.
Ready to Start Your Own Family Gratitude Journal?
If you’re looking to bring more mindfulness, joy, and connection into your home, I can’t recommend starting a gratitude journal enough. And if you’re not sure where to begin, I’ve got you covered.
Our family gratitude journal is designed to make the process easy, fun, and meaningful. It’s packed with prompts to get the whole family thinking about the things that make life beautiful, no matter how big or small.
So, if you’re ready to trade in the jar for something a little more lasting, grab your copy of our family gratitude journal today. Let’s start capturing memories that will last a lifetime.
Whether it’s through a jar or a journal, the important thing is that you’re pausing to notice the good in your life. But trust me when I say—once you try a gratitude journal, you’ll never go back to the jar.
