I decided to learn how to make a gratitude journal to help remind myself to act with kindness. I know we all know that’s how we should act but sometimes we get busy, we get stressed, we get overtired or we just don’t think about what we’re saying before we say it. Have you ever had something happen and the first thing that pops into your head is what’s wrong with or why it bothers you? Can you turn it around and make it something you’re grateful for instead? Maybe you have a deadline at work and your child has interrupted you for the one hundredth time that morning? Don’t think about the interruption. Think about how grateful you are to have a child to interrupt you. Thank you to Netflix for sponsoring this post. I am a member of the #StreamTeam.
How to Make a Gratitude Journal
When I was trying to figure out how to make a gratitude journal, I wanted to find something easy. I don’t have a lot of special bookmaking tools and supplies. This isn’t something I do all the time so I didn’t want to invest a lot of money into it. Thankfully, I remembered that you can make journals from paperbags and decided to try it that way.
Materials:
- 6 to 10 paper lunchbags.
- Hole punch
- Ribbon to bind
- Things to embellish your book (stickers, brads, eyelets, scrapbook items, bows, paper)
Directions:
- Take your paper lunchbags and set them on top of each other, alternating directions.
- Fold them in half to create the pages in the book & press firmly on the fold which will be the spine.
- Punch 3 holes in the spine. This is where you will bind them.
- Cut scrapbook paper or bookboard if you have it to the size of your book and place one on the front and one on the back. Punch matching holes. This is the cover.
- Tie each hole tightly with ribbon. You can use an eyelet in each if you have them but it’s not required.
- Decorate the cover in whatever theme you like
Now that you know how to make a gratitude journal, you can begin doodling, writing or decorating the pages inside. Each time you find yourself thinking about something or someone in an unkind way, remember to use your gratitude journal to turn those thoughts around.
Check out this list of titles to stream on Netflix, which will help you show your kids how to treat others with kindness and respect. In addition to those below, Derek is a great way to foster a conversation about acceptance with your teens – from the creative mind of Ricky Gervais, a comedy genius with fans of all ages, this mockumentary style comedy-drama makes tough discussions more approachable.
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