10 Gratitude Journals to Help You Get More Zen
Updated: Jan. 16, 2023These gratitude journals will help you get in touch with the good in your life and find your happiness each and every day.
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Why you should start a gratitude journal ASAP
Gratitude journalling is a simple yet incredibly effective way to practice gratitude on a daily basis. Sure, scented candles and adult coloring books are both excellent self-care gifts for yourself or a loved one, but gratitude journals and happiness have a direct correlation. In fact, according to a review of research published in the Journal of Happiness Studies, gratitude is an effective form of self-help since it can alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression.
While a quick online search will turn up hundreds of gratitude journals for you to choose from, we decided to make things easier by recommending journals that fit your individual needs. For example, if you’re the creative type, you might want a journal with blank illustrations that you can color in. If you’re pressed for time, you might benefit from quick, easy prompts that can be answered in a matter of minutes. Whatever your preference, a gratitude journal is one of the best books you can buy, and we’ve got the perfect one for you!
Best overall
Good Days Start with Gratitude Journal
This 52-week guide that promises to cultivate an attitude of gratitude is a fan favorite for good reason. More than 20,000 five-star reviewers on Amazon rave about this journal’s 118 pages of to-the-point prompts, which encourage readers to write down three things they’re grateful for every day, as well as its insightful, inspirational quotes meant to spark creativity and curiosity. It’s great for beginners or those who are pressed for time.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Easy-to-fill-out prompts
Cons:
- Limited room for writing
- Only a year’s worth of entries
Best for beginners
The Happiness Project One-Sentence Journal: A Five-Year Record
Gretchen Rubin’s five-year, one-sentence happiness journal is perfect for folks looking to dip their toes into the whole gratitude thing and keep it going. Just turn to today’s date, write a short reflection—and voilà! Plus, it’s pretty cool to see how your reflections and thoughts evolve over the course of five years. By the way, expressing gratitude is just one of the things happy people do every day.
Pros:
- Minimal effort required
- Five years’ worth of entries
Con:
- The book is relatively small in size, so there’s not a ton of writing room
Best for self-manifestation
The Book of Dreams Come True: A Journal of Self-Discovery, Goals, and Manifestation
This little gratitude journal encourages users to dream big and subsequently turn those dreams into reality via the power of manifestation. Expand your imagination by completing the creative writing prompts, which aim to inspire gratitude and joy. Some examples include thinking up a title for a book based on the story of your (ideal) life and visualizing a situation in which you are appreciated by everyone around you. It’s a self-help book that’s fun, creative, and practical, and it will inspire you to look at your life a little differently.
Pros:
- Writing prompts encourage creativity
- Combines gratitude with the power of manifestation
Con:
- Beginners may find it a bit overwhelming
Best for busy people
The One-Minute Gratitude Journal
The aptly named One-Minute Gratitude Journal is ideal for those in a time crunch, since it takes just one minute to fill out the simple yet reflective prompt. All you have to do is list five things you’re grateful for and you’re done! The journal also features a mix of uplifting quotes, graphics, and blank pages for doodling.
Pros:
- Relatively low effort
- Quick and efficient prompts
Con:
-
Not a ton of room to write
Best for artists
Start Each Day with a Grateful Heart: A 52-Week Gratitude Journal
This 52-week gratitude journal is an excellent pick for artists of all skill levels, since it’s chock-full of beautiful floral illustrations for users to color in. (Though you’ll need to use your own markers, crayons, or colored pencils to do so.) Each daily entry also offers three lines for you to jot down today’s points of gratitude. Since the prompts are short, you’ll have time to engage in other activities that will bring a smile to your face, whether that’s getting creative with a crafting kit or curling up with an amazing new book.
Pros:
- Users get to color in illustrations
- Prompts are short and sweet
Con:
- A bit pricier than other options on this list
Best for teens
Gratitude Journal for Teens
This 150-page journal was specifically created for teens interested in learning more about the correlation between practicing gratitude and one’s overall state of happiness. The playful, emoji-filled pages offer mostly straightforward prompts (for example, track your mood, dance to your favorite song, or think about a time when you felt angry). As such, it won’t take too much time to squeeze in entries while balancing exam prep, extracurriculars, socializing, and TikTok-viewing.
Pros:
- Simple prompts
- Won’t take more than a few minutes to complete
Con:
- Ample writing space, which may feel intimidating for younger kids or beginners
Best for kids
Today Is Great: A Daily Gratitude Journal for Kids
Designed for children ages seven to 10, this guided gratitude journal boasts beautiful colored pages, fun illustrations, and kid-friendly quotes to help little ones unleash their creativity and expand their minds. The lighthearted prompts (e.g., “Name one special talent you have,” “What’s your favorite pet?”) provide little ones with a better understanding of basic gratitude principles to incorporate into their daily lives.
Pros:
- Colorful, creative pages
- Fun prompts
Con:
- Best for children seven and up
Best for list lovers
52 Lists for Happiness: Weekly Journal Inspiration for Positivity, Balance, and Joy
Do you love a good to-do list? If so, then 52 Lists for Happiness is the gratitude journal for you. Don’t worry—the book is anything but boring. Instead, you’ll find gorgeous illustrations and photography coupled with happiness-inducing prompts. You’ll be writing about topics such as the best opportunities others have given you, the happiest stories you’ve heard today, and what you’re passionate about. The gratitude journal doesn’t have any dates in it, so you don’t have to worry about completing it by a specific month or year, and the stunning packaging—complete with copper foil and a velvet ribbon—is a bonus. In fact, it’s a great gift idea, so you might want to pick up two!
Pros:
- Great for organized types
- Beautiful packaging
Con:
- May not be right for those who don’t love checklists
Best for deeper self-reflection
Gratitude: A Day and Night Reflection Journal
For a deeper dive into the world of gratitude, consider this 90-day journal, which users can fill out twice daily (morning and night). Each of the 184 pages is lined and offers ample space for you to record all your guided thoughts. The morning prompts will help you choose your areas of focus for the day and includes affirmations and cues to discuss what you’re grateful for and excited about (and how to achieve your goals), while the evening prompts center on the good things that happened and how they made you feel.
Pros:
- Lined pages offer plenty of space for reflection
- Provides a handful of prompts per page
Cons:
- Can get a little repetitive
- Only room for 90 days’ worth of entries
Best for paying it forward
Letters for a Year of Gratitude: Write Now. Keep in Touch Always.
With this unique journal, you can spread the love—and express your gratitude with your nearest and dearest. Unlike the other options on this list, this one is meant to be shared with loved ones. Each of the 52 pages can be torn out, serving as a thoughtful letter that you can then send to a friend or family member. It even comes complete with stickers for sealing and hand-delivering (or just stick on a stamp and drop it in the mail). Each page has a unique prompt, such as “What I appreciate about us” and “It’s the little things, like when…” If you want to acknowledge a time when someone went above and beyond, consider pairing your page with a thoughtful thank-you gift.
Pros:
- Great option for those who love writing letters
- Thoughtful prompts ensure you’re creating meaningful messages
Cons:
- Not ideal for self-reflection, since you’re not keeping your entries
Source:
- Journal of Happiness Studies: “Gratitude Interventions: Effective Self-help? A Meta-analysis of the Impact on Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety”
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