Gratitude Jars - DIY Project For Kids Of ALL Ages!

Let's Build A Gratitude Jar...TOGETHER!

Learn how to make a simple gratitude jar that you can use to record & collect your happy moments.

 Adding to it each week is an easy way to practice self-care, as it forces you to slow down and reflect on the positive things (big & small) in your everyday life. This also makes a thoughtful DIY gift for friends, family, or anyone who's going through a rough patch (anyone living through 2020 can relate).

What is a Gratitude Jar?

Essentially, a jar (usually a glass mason jar but any vessel works) that helps you practice gratitude by reflecting on the positive things in your life.

There are two main types of gratitude jars:

An Empty Jar That You Fill (with handwritten scraps of paper

 containing things you're grateful for)

A Full Jar That You Pull From (with printed slips of paper that have inspirational quotes on them)

The first is one you typically make yourself (or are gifted by others).

The second is one you buy pre-made that you can draw from and read whenever you want.

 

I'm sharing the first type today. As much as I love quotes,

I think it's more personal & meaningful to fill the jar with your

own thoughts of gratitude and happiness. And physically writing

out those thoughts solidifies them in your mind.

Why Start a Gratitude Jar?

The MAIN REASON?

 It's good for your mental health & GREAT self care to practice gratitude!

And right now, mental health is a BIG issue.

 

We live in a time where we're constantly stimulated

by our phones, laptops & tablets. We become addicted

 to the quick dopamine hits we get when folks "like" or comment

on our social media or forum posts.

But what happens when an algorithm changes and suddenly

 no one is seeing your posts? Or, your feed is filled with pictures

 and videos of everyone else's highly edited & curated "perfect" life?

 

You start to feel less than. You begin to fall into the comparison trap.

Wonder why your life isn't like theirs.

Here's what to do if you fall into the comparison trap:

mute that person's account or unfollow them

if you find yourself mindlessly scrolling in places that make you feel bad, delete the social apps from your phone or clear the cache on your computer so you're logged out of all sites

UNPLUG and take a break from the digital world

And in the meantime, ground yourself in your actual, real-world life.

Interact with your loved ones - as much as safely possible during

these times, spend time outdoors, do something that fills you up,

 & create a home environment that brings you joy.

 

Practicing gratitude helps immensely, too!

 

It forces us to slow down and reflect on the things we're thankful for.

And when we think about said positive things, it makes us feel good.

It also gives a much-needed perspective when we're comparing our

imagined "deficit" to another person's "surplus".

Ideas & Writing Prompts For a Gratitude Jar

 

 

Some folks have a hard time writing when they're sitting in front

of a blank piece of paper. Here are some ideas to get the words flowing:

core needs that are being met (shelter, food, safety, health, transportation, etc.)

people that are making a positive impact on your life & why

activities you're doing right now that make you happy: TV shows, books, movies, games, extracurricular things, etc. (it's fun to record these and look back on them a year later)

new experiences you've had

funny or cute moments from the furry friends in your life

things you've learned recently

things you've purchased, donated, or gifted

any creative outlet you have

good things that happen to others in your life (let it be aspirational for you)

places you've traveled to (even if they're just in your local area)

how you're feeling physically (it could always be worse - LOL)

seasonal things (weather, holidays, etc.)

things you've moved on from or left go in your life

new habits you've started

things you're looking forward to

old memories that affect you deeply & stay with you to this day

quotes or ideas that inspire you & why

Learn how to make a simple gratitude jar that you can use to record & collect your happy moments. Adding to it each day is an easy way to practice self-care, as it forces you to slow down and reflect on the positive things (big & small) in your everyday life. This also makes a thoughtful DIY gift for friends, family, or anyone who's going through a rough patch.

MATERIALS:

1 glass jar with lid - like a mason jar, hermetically sealed jar, etc.

1 pack of index cards or cardstock cut down into your preferred size (you'll need 52 pieces of paper for a weekly jar)

a few good pens in your favorite color

Decorations (optional): a kraft sticker or chalkboard sticker or chalkboard paint for decorating the jar with a "gratitude jar", "happy jar" or "good things jar" label

 

 

STEPS:

Buy the jar, cards, and pens and set them next to each other in a place where you can easily see the jar & remember to add to it weekly (or daily if you prefer).

Create a written and/or digital reminder to yourself to add to the jar all year long. This makes it easy to add to your routine!

DECORATING OPTION: If you're gifting this to someone else (or want to decorate it for yourself), wrap some hemp cord (plain or colored) around the top of the jar, then apply a sticker or several layers of chalkboard paint to one side of the jar. Write "gratitude jar", "happy jar", or "good things jar" using your favorite pen, markers, or chalk. You could even get a nice tag to tie onto the cord and write brief instructions for how to use the jar, and pair it with a few good-quality pens.