We spotted it on socials and immediately thought this was an awesome tip: the gratitude jar or successes jar. In Dutch, that sounds like a happiness spot or gratitude spot perhaps a little less sexy. But the idea is super. All you need is a big jar, a notebook, a pen and hopefully a year full of happy moments and achieved goals.
How does the happiness pot work?
The idea is simple and that's what makes it so good. Put a nice jar in a visible spot in your home, put a stack of notes and a pen next to it, and you're ready to start. Each week, take a moment to write down something that made you happy. This could be anything: a nice day out, a success at work, or that you finally picked up a sustainable habit. Maybe you had a good success with second-hand shopping, you ate less meat for a week, or left the car for the bike more often. Write it down and put it in the jar. At the end of the year, open the jar and look back on all those great moments. A perfect way to reinforce your conscious lifestyle and hold on to special memories - and good habits.
Why a happiness pot is good for you
Writing down gratitude may sound woolly, but it really works. Research shows that regularly reflecting on what makes you happy improves your mental health. It helps you feel more positive about life and gives you a lot of energy. Moreover, it is a simple way to live more consciously. Your sustainable resolutions suddenly become tangible: used less plastic, cooked vegetarian more often? Write it down and celebrate your successes.
Here's how to make a habit of being grateful
The power lies in repetition. Pick a fixed moment, for example on Sunday morning with a cup of coffee. It doesn't have to be long - a minute is enough. And don't worry if you skip a week, it's all about the bigger picture. The nice thing about those little notes? Written like that! No need to make it an elaborate diary session. Will you join us this year? We are sure that at the end of the year you will look back on all those beautiful greener moments with a big smile!
More sustainable tips
- Also see: More ideas for green resolutions.
- Also see: The sense and nonsense of detoxing.
Photo credits: thegreenlist.nl. Sources: psychologist.nl.
