What is one of the easiest things to do for someone, yet is often the most overlooked? Telling someone what they mean to us.
Within our families and in our offices, we have been talking a lot about showing and sharing our gratitude. What does that mean, what does that look like? We all seem to have a heightened sense of gratitude around the holiday season, but guess what people… being thankful for what you have and who you have in your life is a 365 thing. We made a list of super simple ways to show gratitude throughout the year, to get you started.
Also, we know sometimes we just get busy and aren’t mindful of sharing/showing gratitude but this list below and these handy daily gratitude worksheets and printables are a great way to start. Print them out and leave the checklists on your nightstand to stay focused on the positive. Sneak one of the printables into your husband’s wallet, leave one in your friend’s car or tucked away in your kiddo’s lunchbox. We guarantee smiles.
Gratitude made easy:
Easy peasy - Say Thank You
Give a compliment
Send a card - it’s nice to see something other than bills in our mailboxes
Leave a note in your kid’s lunchbox
Do the dishes
Be present
Listen
Over tip your waiter
Buy a coffee for your co-workers
Smile
Each morning tell your child one reason why you are thankful for them
Instead of a gift make a donation in someone’s name to their favorite charity
Take on the dirty work - what is one thing your spouse hates to do, then do it
Put someone on blast… but for the best reasons! Share why you think they’re amazing
Randomly tell your child why he/she makes you proud
Buy your co-worker lunch
Grab a box of diapers and wipes for a new mom you know
Send flowers to a neighbor
Share a ‘thinking of you’ note to a friend you may not have chatted with in a while
Write a love letter - use the love language your person would appreciate: funny, mushy, or even a little snarky
Share your talents to help someone else
Perform a random act of kindness for a stranger
Volunteer your time
Pop in to see your grandparents - they miss you
Share what you have… something you may not use but someone else may need, clothing your kiddos may have outgrown, etc.
If you see something that makes you think of your friend or family member share with them why that made you smile
Send an appreciation email to a different co-worker each week
Tell your boss what you appreciate about them… sometimes we forget about the big guy or gal down the hall
Give a small personalized gift to your friend every once in a while, just to show you are thinking of them
Hug your partner a little longer than normal
Do something tangible for your cubical buddy - tackle a few of their phone calls or cross a task of their list for them
Call your mom
Visit or chat with your friend and don’t talk about yourself
Go to lunch or dinner and put your phone away - undivided attention is awesome
Start a bedtime routine with your family sharing one thing that made them grateful for the day
Encourage your child to pick someone to do something nice for each week - play with a new kid on the playground, read stories to their brother/sister, draw pictures for their grandparents - easy simple things they can take ownership of
Plan a girls trip/boys trip with your mom/dad
Go on a day date with your kids individually - spending time with them one-on-one
Celebrate your child’s accomplishments for the day - maybe she brought home a B instead of C on a math test (we know you want an A, but a win is a win), maybe he only played 3 minutes of a basketball game but tell him how awesome he was rather than being quick to offer “constructive criticisms”
Meditate - could be 5 minutes in the car before you walk into work or 30 minutes of quiet before bed. Reflect on those things which make you grateful.
Like and share your friends’/family’s social posts - I know it sounds like a duh-thing to do, but we’re in a digital world and sometimes that little “like” means you are keeping a connection to them
Pick one person each month and list out traits that you like about them and just share it with them. It could be in an email, text, or card
If you’re at work and see a mess, clean it up
Teach someone something new - what’s one thing you’re really good at then walk someone through how to do that thing
Encourage someone to step outside their comfort zone if you know they’re really going to succeed moving forward
When someone challenges you, resist the urge to tell them they’re wrong. Thank them for their point of view.
Pray for someone
Drop them a positive Yelp review
Be a calm presence if someone needs to vent or work through a problem
Sometimes listening and not offering a suggested solution is all a friend might need
Bring dinner to a family member or friend “just because”
Give your partner a “love tap” on the butt before they walk out the door
If your kids are bus riders or walk to school, find a day to drive them/pick them up and take that time to talk about their day
Teach your children about giving to others during the holidays - it’s not all about what they’re going to find under their tree
Show yourself a little gratitude - give yourself a break the next time you look in the mirror, we’re our own worst critics
Make time to do something you’re passionate about
Clean out your wife’s car
Call your dad - this legit happen in my 20s, I called my dad just to chat and the first thing he said when he answered the phone was “are you okay,” followed by “do you need me to get your mom.” My “ah-ha” moment flashed very obviously that I needed to talk to my dad a little more often.
Mow your neighbor’s yard
Make time - visit with family, volunteer with a non-profit, take your mom to church, call your friend rather than text, sit with your spouse or partner and just catch up, lay in bed with your child and read or talk about their day
