Article Overview: A 30 Days of Gratitude Challenge to explore a joy-filled life.
In the busy world of your daily life, being a homemaker means juggling many tasks to keep your home running smoothly.
Sometimes, in the midst of all these responsibilities, it’s easy to forget about the good things around you. That’s where the practice of gratitude comes in.
In this blog post, we’ll explore what gratitude means for you, its benefits, 30 gratitude prompts for homemakers, and tips on keeping a gratitude practice alive even after the 30 days of gratitude challenge.
Are you ready for a happier life? Let’s start your Christian gratitude journey today and feel the positive impact gratitude can have on your heart.
What is gratitude?
Gratitude is more than just saying thank you to God for all the blessings He’s given you; it’s about noticing and appreciating the good things in your life.
It’s about practicing the daily habit of feeling contentment and grace and being in the present moment.
As a homemaker, practicing gratitude can be a special way to find joy in daily chores.
Why is practicing gratitude important?
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, almost 20% of adults experienced mental health difficulties in 2018.
Practicing gratitude is crucial for connecting with God and cultivating a positive and fulfilling life.
It shifts your focus from lack to abundance, which opens us up to experience a more joy-filled life. Gratitude strengthens relationships, fosters joy and optimism, and has demonstrated positive effects on physical health.
Overall, it becomes a powerful tool for navigating life with a grateful heart and enriching daily experiences.
The Benefits of Gratitude:
Embracing gratitude in homemaking offers a range of benefits. It enhances well-being, lowers stress and improves mental health, fosters stronger relationships within the household, and provides resilience to navigate challenges with a positive mindset.
1. Improved Mood and Enhanced Well-Being
Saying thanks regularly can make you feel happier. It can help lower stress and make you feel better, which is important when you’re busy taking care of your home.
Studies conducted by Robert Emmons have shown that an improved mood and enhanced well-being also improve your immune system, so it’s a win-win!
2. Stronger Relationships
Gratitude is not just about you; it’s also about how you relate to others.
Saying thanks to your family members and appreciating what they do can make your home a happier place.
3. Increased Resilience
Life as a homemaker can be challenging, but a gratitude practice can enhance resilience.
Focusing on the positive aspects of each day helps build emotional strength, making it easier to navigate through difficult times and bring you closer to God.
Why Participate in a 30-Day Gratitude Challenge?
Humans are designed to protect themselves, stay in their comfort zones, and not venture out into the unknown. In return, this makes us hardwired to think negatively.
This gratitude challenge can help shift your perspective from naturally negative thinking to positive and uplifting thinking. Something that is worth the pursuit, I assure you!
How to Set Yourself Up for Success in the 30 Days to Gratitude Challenge for Homemakers
The best way to approach a new endeavour is with intentionality. You can’t expect to conquer a new challenge if you do not properly prepare for it.
Here are my suggestions for succeeding in this 30 day challenge:
1 // Come up with a plan
Using the WOOP Method [Wish, Outcome, Obstacles, and Plan], you can define your why, the action steps to take, the obstacles you’ll face, and experience the results of following through with the plan.
So what do you wish to happen? Complete the 30 Days of Gratitude Challenge, because I want to experience a joy-filled life as a homemaker. Thinking positively will not only improve my mood but also my family’s mood.
What steps will lead to your outcome? Schedule a time each day to complete the gratitude journaling prompts, set out my gratitude journal and a pen so that I see it each day, and set a reminder in my phone to keep me consistent.
What obstacles will you face? Being so busy in everyday life, I forget and dismiss my reminders. Not being home at the time my reminder goes off.
What will you do when you face an obstacle? I will plan for a second reminder at the end of the day so that I can check in with myself. This second reminder will allow me to overcome both obstacles mentioned.
2 // Practice habit stacking
In the book Atomic Habits, James Clear explains how easy it is to build habits by stacking new habits with habits we already complete each day.
An example of habit stacking this gratitude challenge could look like the following:
Step 1: Make a cup of coffee
Step 2: Sit down at the dining table to sip coffee
Step 3: Open gratitude journal
Step 4: Complete the gratitude journal prompt writing
3 // Inspire positive feedback
In addition to habit stacking, you can provide yourself with a reward for completing a daily challenge.
This could look like crossing off a prompt on the checklist or enjoying a sweet treat afterward.
4 // Get an accountability partner
Accountability partners help us achieve goals by holding us accountable to not disappoint them by not completing a daily prompt.
If you have a harder time doing something for yourself compared to other people, this is an essential part of seeing success in this 30-day challenge.
Get someone who will hold you accountable and isn’t afraid to tell you how disappointed they are if you don’t complete a day in the challenge. I promise it will pay off!
30 Days of Gratitude Challenge Journaling Prompts
1 // List 3-5 things you’re grateful for today
2 // What makes you smile?
3 // What do you love most about yourself?
4 // How are you kind to yourself?
5 // How are you kind to others?
6 // When was the last time you volunteered? How was that experience?
7 // What are you really good at doing?
8 // Read Psalm 118:24 and journal your thoughts
9 // Read 1 Thessalonians 5:18 and journal your thoughts
10 // Who are you most thankful for today?
11 // How is God blessing you through this challenge so far?
12 // Write about your favorite experience to date.
13 // What brings you joy?
14 // Read Psalm 100:4-5 and list all the ways the Lord has been good in your life.
15 // Are you grateful to be a homemaker? If so, why? If not, in what ways could you be grateful to be a homemaker?
16 // What do you enjoy most about being a homemaker?
17 // How can you bless your home as a homemaker?
18 // In what ways do you care for your home that makes you grateful for your home?
19 // What’s been your biggest struggle as a homemaker that you’ve overcome?
20 // With no objections of any kind, if you could develop one skill, what would it be?
21 // Who is your best friend, and what do you love most about your friendship?
22 // What are 5 ways you can be kind to someone today?
23 // How can you show your spouse appreciation for your lifestyle?
24 // When was the last time you did something joyful for yourself, and what did you do?
25 // List 10 things you love about yourself.
26 // Read Daniel 2:23 and list all the ways God has provided you with wisdom and power.
27 // Read Philippians 4:6-7. What are you anxious about today that you can give to God?
28 // Read 2 Corinthians 9:11 and write about how you give. Is it generous?
29 // Make a list of everyone in your life you’re grateful for today.
30 // What blessings has this challenge given you? What have you learned about yourself and giving thanks to God?
5 Ways to Sustain a Daily Gratitude Practice:
The 30 Days of Gratitude Challenge is just the beginning. By continuing this daily practice, you can continue connecting with God, improving your mental health, strengthening relationships, and improving your resilience.
Here’s how you can keep gratitude alive in your daily life:
1. Make Gratitude a Routine:
Set aside a specific time each day to think about what you’re thankful for.
Doing it daily is important, whether in the morning, during lunch, or before bedtime.
2. Use Visual Reminders:
Put sticky notes or create a gratitude board in your home to remind you to think about what you’re thankful for.
Seeing these reminders can help you focus on gratitude even when you’re beyond busy.
3. Share Gratitude with Family:
Bring gratitude into your family discussions.
Ask each family member to share what they’re thankful for during meals or family meetings.
It’s a positive experience for everyone.
4. Practice Mindfulness:
Take a few moments each day to breathe deeply and focus on the present.
This helps you stay aware of the good things around you, even in the midst of homemaking.
5. Express Gratitude to Others:
Don’t keep your gratitude to yourself. Tell others when you appreciate them.
Whether it’s a family member, friend, or neighbor, sharing your thanks strengthens your connections.
5 More Ways to Practice Daily Gratitude
Writing in a gratitude journal isn’t the only way to practice gratitude. In fact, there are a lot of ways you can connect with God and practice gratitude.
Here are five more ways to practice daily gratitude:
1 // Gratitude Walks
A gratitude walk is when you focus on your surroundings and thank God for all you see and think.
Leave the phone, earbuds, and anything else that will distract you at home, and focus on God’s goodness.
2 // Gratitude Jars
Fill a gratitude jar with notes of gratitude. Over time you’ll see it fill full of joy-filled thoughts, which can boost your mood.
At the end of the year or month, pull each note out of the jar and read them to see what you found thanks for during that time. It’s a wonderful way to revisit the joy you experienced.
3 // Hug Someone And Thank Them
Hugging someone for at least six seconds helps us feel whole. I heard from a random source that we need four hugs a day to maintain our mental health and eight to improve our mood.
Adding thanks to your hug can make this bonding experience even more rewarding for both individuals.
4 // Give a Genuine Compliment
Have you ever heard the saying, “What you put out into the world comes back tenfold”?
It’s true! Complimenting someone not only makes them feel good, but you as well.
They don’t even need to compliment you back to get the goodness that comes with complimenting.
A compliment per day, even to the same person, can drastically improve your mood. However, I challenge you to set a goal of at least two compliments per day to stretch yourself a bit to see how it feels.
5 // Write a ‘Thank You’ letter/postcard to someone
There’s nothing like sending something through the mail that will delight someone days after you send it.
It not only feels good to send it, but to know that ripple effect will come in a matter of days.
Spreading joy and thanksgiving is one of the simplest ways to practice gratitude that benefits more than just you.
Final Thoughts
Embarking on this 30 Days to Gratitude Challenge designed just for you, a homemaker, can be a wonderful journey.
By cultivating a mindset of gratitude, you can find joy in your daily tasks and contribute to a positive and happy home environment.
Use the provided prompts to get started, and let the ripple effects of gratitude brighten every aspect of your homemaking journey.
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