Free gratitude journal template for a daily practice

Writing down good things trains attention toward them. The prompts are short on purpose, so the habit fits into even a busy day.

Who it is for

It is for anyone who wants a short daily reflection: people building a calmer evening routine, students under pressure, and anyone keeping a journal for the first time. Track it as a habit with the habit tracker if you like streaks.

What is in the gratitude journal template

• Three good things today: a numbered list.
• Someone I am grateful for: a person, and why.
• A small win: anything that went right.
• Tomorrow I look forward to: one thing.

An example

Every evening at 9:30, a new gratitude note is waiting for Leo, made by a repeating note. Today he writes three things: a long call with his sister, sunshine at lunch and a bug fixed at work. He is grateful for a colleague who covered for him. His small win is finishing a chapter, and tomorrow he looks forward to a run. It takes four minutes.

How to use the gratitude journal template

1. Choose Open in Barside above. Barside opens and asks before it adds anything.
2. Pick the workspace for the note, and leave Keep it in my templates ticked to use the template again.
3. Choose Create note. A new note called "Gratitude · Oct 5" opens, ready to fill in.
4. Next time, start one from New note from a template, or let Barside make it on a schedule as a repeating note.

No Barside yet? It is free for Windows, Linux and Mac: download Barside, then choose Open in Barside again.

How to keep a gratitude habit

• Write at the same time each day, such as before bed.
• Be specific: "the warm bread at lunch" beats "food".
• Small things count. Most good things are small.
• Read last month's entries when a day is hard.

Make it yours

• Make it a repeating note every evening, so it is waiting for you; the date fills in.
• Add a prompt of your own, such as Something I learned.
• Keep all entries in their own workspace.