If you’ve been craving a calmer, more grounded daily routine, consider this your sign, because the best gratitude journals can make even the most hectic days feel a little more intentional. Much like affirmations, gratitude journals offer an opportunity to consciously focus on life's positive aspects. While gratitude journalling may initially sound a little woo-woo or even cliché, putting pen to paper and jotting down everything you’re grateful for – no matter how small – can actually shift your mindset, help you to reframe negative thoughts and find ways to feel positive.
In fact, there’s a range of impressive benefits of gratitude, daily check-ins and gratitude practice. According to research, writing down your deepest thoughts and feelings may contribute to fewer stress-related doctor visits, lower blood pressure, improved mood and greater well-being. While practicing gratitude has also been found to combat loneliness, improve life satisfaction, boost self-esteem and increase your ability to emphasise.
Before you start researching gratitude journals, think about the layout of the journal – do you prefer plain, lined, squared, or dotted paper? Do you like big or small gaps between the lines? Do you want space to doodle and be creative? Do you need gratitude prompts and different sections to celebrate your wins? Do you prefer paperback or hardback? Once you’ve thought about what kind of journal you need, it’s time to start cultivating an attitude of gratitude and putting your appreciation on paper.
Keep scrolling for our favourite gratitude journals filled with uplifting affirmations, activities and mottos.
1. Best gratitude journal overall
Why we love it: Available in twelve different colours and a Papier bestseller, this hardback gratitude journal asks you to write down three things you’re looking forward to in the morning, and three things you’re grateful for in the evening – that’s it. There are uplifting quotes littered throughout the template, including things like ‘remember, you are not your thoughts’ and ‘look how far you’ve come’ – and there are also set pages dedicated to a 30-day self-reflection, where you can jot down any thoughts, positive emotions and lessons from the past month. Just like a Papier notebook or diary, you can personalise the front cover of this gratitude journal with your name.
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2. Best for daily reflection
Why we love it: The inside of this Papier journal is pretty much exactly the same layout as the Joy Gratitude Journal from Papier above – it has daily pages with morning and evening entries, as well as pages for your 30-day reflections, uplifting mantras littered throughout and set exercises to help you to acknowledge and appreciate all that you have. We particularly liked the ‘Letter to yourself’ exercise – where you write a letter to your future self and imagine who you’ll be in a month, a year or a decade’s time (helpful if writing about the present is difficult). And we found the ‘life wheel’ exercise useful too – you colour in the areas of life you’ve focused on most recently, which helps you to visualise where you’ve been dedicating too much (or too little) time, such as, work or going to the gym.
3. Best for beginners
Why we love it: Journaling can be a hard habit to keep, but this one only requires five minutes of your time. Each page opens with an inspiring quote, and asks you to list three things you're grateful for, three things that would make today great, and a positive affirmation. There’s also space on the page for you to jot down your highlights of the day and what you learnt. With enough pages for 6 months, this undated journal comes in six different colours. Never journaled before? This one is easy to pick up thanks to its bite-sized prompts.
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4. Best for building a habit
Why we love it: Designed for you to spend just three minutes journaling in the morning and three minutes in the evening, this 6-minute diary is a great starting point for someone looking to make self-care a regular practice. The morning routine asks you what you’re grateful for, how you’ll make today great, and a positive affirmation, while the evening section asks you to list your good deed for the day, how you’ll improve, and great things you experienced. Super easy to use, there’s also a habit tracker and new reflection questions to answer each week.
5. Best for motivation
Why we love it: ‘If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you need time and space to think. The only way to find it? Say no,’ so says one of the thought-provoking prompts in the Do It For Yourself motivational journal, it then asks you to write a list of things you’re going to say no to. Each of the exercises in this journal are designed to help reorient your outlook, overcome roadblocks, and encourage mindfulness – and they all sit beside eye-catching, pop-art-inspired graphics.
6. Best for boosting positivity
Why we love it: With designated space to spew everything you’re grateful for and to set your positive affirmation for the day, plus set colouring pages to help destress, this Daily Gratitude Journal also has breathing exercises, meditation tips, and snippets on how to tackle stress. We particularly liked the page filled with small things you can do to cheer yourself up – including; watch a sunset, turn music on and dance, soak in a warm bath, and bake your favourite dessert. It’s a smart looking journal, too – made from faux leather.
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7. Best with quotes
Why we love it: Keeping things super simple, this bestselling Inner-Truth Journal – Okay Fine, I’m Grateful – offers a whole blank page to spill reasons why you’re grateful under the heading; ‘why I’m grateful, more or less’. At the bottom there are four different face emojis (ranging from super smiley to pretty miserable) and you can tick which one most represents ‘today’s gratitude level’. In between the blank pages are quotes from the likes of Stephen Hawkin and Doris Lessing, so if you struggle to think of anything positive, the idea is you can use these quotes as a jumping-off point.
8. Best for mindful mornings
Why we love it: This gratitude journal from Mål, pronounced ‘mo-l’ (which means ‘goal’ in Swedish) feels both sturdy and high-quality thanks to its cotton hardback cover. Each page has helpful prompts, including; ‘3 things to be grateful for’, ‘How I will make today great…’, and ‘My daily affirmation is…’ The idea is that you start each morning by listing three things you feel grateful for – for example, ‘I am thankful I get to do a job I love’ – taking time to appreciate the full emotions linked to each one and then end each day by reflecting on the positive moments that occurred (it also prompts you to write down ‘3 positive things that happened today’ and ‘what will I do tomorrow to make it a better day’). And with undated pages, you won’t feel guilty if you accidentally miss a day.
9. Best with thought-provoking prompts
- Filled with daily exercises designed to help you reflect on the positive aspects of your life.
- It's designed for up to 30 days, making it perfect for kickstarting a new habit.
- It's not the best option if you're seeking something more lasting that can be used year-round.
Why we love it: With a vibrant purple and pink design, this gratitude journal is crafted to lift your spirits through daily practice. Featuring 30 days of gratitude and mindfulness exercises, it’s more than just a place to note what you’re thankful for. It includes practical tools such as daily gratitude prompts and thought-provoking exercises that encourage reflection on the positive aspects of your life, helping to foster a consistently optimistic mindset.
10. Best 90-day journal
Why we love it: This journal offers a 90-day guided experience to practice gratitude. Its structured prompts help you reflect on positivity and focus on personal growth. With a daily format, it’s designed for simplicity and consistency, encouraging mindfulness in just a few minutes a day. Perfect for beginners, it provides a manageable introduction to gratitude journaling.
11. Best budget-friendly option
Why we love it: Ideal for personal growth or as a meaningful gift, this 100-day journal is a practical tool for self-care. Inside, you'll find ample space to expand on your gratitude, explore what you're grateful for, or simply document your daily experiences. With 100 days of entries, it helps track your progress, allowing you to notice a shift in your perspective and mindset as you cultivate a greater appreciation for the present moment. By the end of the 100 days, you'll also have a tangible keepsake filled with positivity to revisit whenever you need a boost of gratitude and perspective.
12. Best for building a mindful daily routine
Why we love it: If you’re craving a little calm in the chaos, this gratitude journal is basically a pocket-sized pause button. With five months of undated entries, you can dip in and out whenever life allows, while the morning and evening prompts gently nudge you into a more mindful headspace. Each month ends with a 30-day reflection, giving you space to sift through your thoughts, feelings and those tiny moments you’d usually forget. Add in the pep-talk affirmations, uplifting mottos and simple gratitude-boosting activities, and you’ve got a journal that doesn’t just help you stay positive on the good days – it genuinely supports you through the tricky ones, too.
13. Best for personal growth
Why we love it: This five-month gratitude journal is the kind of low-lift wellbeing win you’ll actually stick to. The undated pages mean no guilt if you skip a day – or a week – and the AM/PM prompts are perfect for grounding yourself whenever you need a mindful moment. Each month wraps with a 30-day reflection that invites you to unpack what really mattered, from tiny triumphs to lessons learned.
